The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-09-28
GERMANS INVOLVE
US. IN PO|SONPLOT
SECRETARY LANSING EXPOSES
MORE EVIDENCE AGAINST
TEUTON DIPLOMATS.
AGENT ADMITS WILFUL. DEED
Microbes and Explosives Placed in
Legation At Bucharest Before
America Took Charge There.

Neutrality-suspicious. Germany shame
fully abused and exploited" the pro-
lection of the United States, by secret
ing in the German legation at Bucha-
rest, after the American government
had taken charge Of Germany's afairs
at the Rumanian capital, quantities OF
powerful explosives for bomb plots.
also deadly microbes, with instrue-
tions for their use in destroying
horses and cattle, was revealed sun
day by Secretary Lansing.
1t was another OF the series OF Mr..
Lansing's disclosures of German IN
trigue. made public without comment.
The latest story is told in a report to
the state department from William
Whiting Andrews, secretary or the
legation at Bucharest, and letter
from Foreign Minister Parumbaru. OF
Rumania.
Germans Arouse Suspicion.
Parcels and boxes taken into the
German consulate at Bucharest with
display of great precaution aroused
the suspicion of the Rumanian govern
HtHt, August -, lJIo, th' SFCbihS
prior to the date of Rumania's declara-
ton of war, some Of the cases were
taken to the German legation, located
in a different building from the con-
sulate. Convinced the boxes were not
taken away from the legation by the
German diplomatic mission on its de-
parture from Bucharest, Rumanian
authorities ordered the police to find
and examine their contents.
The police communicated with
American Minister Vopicka, then in
charge OF German interests, who
reluctantly assigned Secretary An
drews to observe the search. The
boxes were found buried in the gar
den OF the German legation.
kaiser's Agent confesses.
Mr. Andrews report says: Upon
my return from the examination which
resulted in the discovery OF the ex-
plosives and of the box of microbes,
both of which the legation servants
admitted having placed in the garden,
the former confidential agent OF the
German minister, DR.. Bernhard, who
ldu DeeH lell Will TIC lc6dtlob dt ZIG
German minister's request to assist in
the care of German interests. admit
ted his knowledge of the explosives
placed in the garden; told me that
more were in the garden than had
been found that still larger guam
tity had been buried in the house OF
the legation; and that still worse
things than this box of microbes were
contained in the legation. and insinuat-
ed that they would have been found
even in the cabinets of dossiers, which
l had sealed
"Dr. Bernhard also stated that all
these objects had been brought to the
German legation after our legation
had accepted the protection of Ger
man interests, which agreed with the
statement of the servants. A similar
confession was made to the minister
by this man.
Denial Futile in This Case.
1.-THE protection Of the United
States was in this manner shamefully
abused and exploited. In this instance,
at least, the German government can
IOt nave W ITO usual byStCm
of denial"
Fifty-one boxes were taken from
the ground in the garden. Fifty Of
them contained each a cartridge filed
with trinitrotoluene. saturated with
mononitrotoluene, among the most
powerful explosives known, one-fifth
of each OF one being sufficient to tear
up a railroad track. In the other box
were bottles Of liquid found to be
civilizations of the microbes OF an
thrax. and CHAMBERS. It bore a seal
from the German consulate at Kron-
stadt, Hungary. Inside was a type
written note in German, saying:
Enclosed four phials for horses and
four for cattle. To be employed az
formerly arranged. Each phial Is
sufficient for 200 head. To be intro
duced IL possible directly into the
animals throats; If not, into tn ir
fodder Please make little report ON
the success obtained there; in case Of
good results the presence Of Mr..
Kostoff for one day here would be de-
sirable."
Foreign Minister Porumbaru &C
companied his letter with documents
to prove the origin OF the boxes and
their contents.