Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-17
HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY
TO LEARN NAVAL SECRETS
Secretary Daniels Issues Statement
About Dunbar, Alleged
German Agent.
SERVES AS OFFICER IN NAVY
Discharged After Investigation Is
Made by Ofllce OF Naval IntcIli-
gence, and Refused Admission to
Aviation Corps.

WASHINGTON. October 16.-William
l.. Dunbar. arrested in New York on
suspicion of being a German agent and
informed ut Ellis Island. had ample OPP
portunity to learn american naval
secrets.
This was made plain In an official
statement authorized by Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels tonight after Dun
bars record as an officer of the United
States naval reserve had been scanned
and he had been dismissed from tho
navy. The statement says:
William Lewis Dunbar was enrolled
March 90, 1917. i'll the provisional rank
OF ensign, u. S. y. reserve force. In the
third naval district. New York.
ION April 2, 1917. he executed the
acceptance and oath OF Office, which
document states that he was born June
.. 1898. in Hamburg, Germany, and
claims citizenship in the State OF Penn
sy!vania.
After enrolment he was on duty in
tho third naval district, and on June
was ordered detached from the Fed
eral rendezvous at the foot OF Fifty
second Street. Brooklyn. n. Y. and d.
rec,cd to take charge Of patrol ship
ORDERED TO DUTY
IN TITTING OUT VESSEL
ION August s he was detached from
that ship and ordered to duty in At
ting out another patrol vessel.
He submitted a request for trans
fer TO the aviation section Of the navy
but it was disapprovcd May Is.
After an investigation by the Office
of naval intelligence. Dunbar WAS dis
OH.
a telegram from the Bureau OF Navi-
OF the third naval district"
Dunbar's discharge from the navy
removes him from danger OF being
tried by courtmartial as spy, Secre-
tary Daniels indicated to-day. He de-
clarcd the case was row in the hands
OF the Department of Justice. and 1t
would deal with It,
How Dunbar got into the navy and
the exact reason for his discharge were
not made public, but it was said ut the
department that Improper statements"
regarding himself had been an actu-
ating cause for the discharge
Secretary Daniels would disclose
none OF the facts obtained through the
investigation of Dunbar's conduct by
the Office of naval intelligence, but 81
was indicated that these facts had
been turned over to the Department OF
Justice, and that the arrest was the re-
suit
IT inquired to learn why Dunbar
had been enrolled as an ensign" Sec
rotary Daniels said. land find that un-
der the law the commandments OF the
thirteen naval districts were allowed
some latitude in enrolling Candidates.
Some few were enrolled ms officers.
That was changed several months ago,
and no men are now enrolled as off,
GERS unless they pass the required ex-
animation. Some of those enrolled
without examination proved to have
no knowledge OF seamanship. and n
number were either dropped from the
rolls of the naval reserve or reduced
TO the ranks"
REFUSE TO COMMENT
on CASE OF DUNBAR
Officials OF the Bureau of Navigation
and the Office of naval intelligence
refused to comment on the case or 10
disclose the reason why an investiga-
ton of Dunbars conduct was ordered.
Unofficial advices state that his actions
on board the patrol ship which ha
comma ndcd were primarily responsible
for the inquiry.
Dunbar's apparenr anxiety TO get
into tho aviation service Is pointed
out here as significant.
The case of the reDorteh dropDip1