Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-09-28

bitter against England, because two
years ago (this letter appears to have
been written about June 1, 1915. which
would make the date referred to the
early summer Of 1919 a certain attack
was made against him over commercial
matters In Great Britain. and 1t was
only by appealing to the United States
department of state and writ of habeas
corpus before the lord chief justice OF
England that he escaped successfully.
+. He was in England and France
at the outbreak of the war; he has ac-
French official information. He wants to
go across to Europe and serve. secretly
for Germany"
Here's a Pseudo Labor Agency.
Closely related to and to some extent
under the guidance Of Won Igel was the
German and Austro-H Hungarian labor
information and relief bureau. with
central headquarters at 1876 Liberty
street. New York city. and branches in
Cleveland, Detroit. Bridgeport Pitts
burgh. Philadelphia and Chicago. The
head Of this enterprise was Hans Lie
bau. from whom it took its Familiarity
accepted name of the "Liebau Employ
ment agency"
That the Austro-Hungarian embassy
had taken official cogniZance of the bu-
reau is disclosed in the letter written
by the ambassador to the Austro- Hun
garian minister for foreign affairs
which was found in the possession of
James F. j. Archibald by the British
authorities August 30. 1915.
After Ammunition Plants.
In this letter the ambassador stated:
1T is my impression that we can dis
organize and hold up for months, If not
entirely prevent, the manufacture of
munitions in Bethlehem and the middle
West which, in the opinion of the Ger
man military attache, is of Importance
and amply outweighs the comparative
ly small expenditure of money involved;
but even if the strikes do not come off
1T is probable that we should extort.
under pressure of circumstances, more
favorable conditions Of labor for our
poor, downtrodden fellow countrymen.
80 far as German workmen are
found in the skilled hands. means of
leaving will be provided immediately
for them. Besides this, a private Ger
man employment Office has been estab-
lished which provides employment for
persons who have voluntarily given UP
their places. and it is already working
well. We shall also join in, and the
widest support is assured u.s."
The following representations on be-
half Of the bureaus efficiency were
made, under date Of March "a. 1916, in
letter to the German ambassador, Won
Bernstorff.
Engineers and persons in the better
class of positions. and who had means
Of their own were persuaded by the
propaganda of the bureau to leave war
material factories"
Cause Of Strikes.
The report comments with uncon-
cealed amusement upon the fact that
munitions concerns innocently wrote the
bureau for wOrkmen (Which. of course,
were not furnished) and continues in
reviewing later conditions in the muni
tions industry.
THE commercial employment bureaus
of the country have no supply of unem-
ployed technicians. Many dis
turbances and suspensions which war
material factories have had to suffer
and which, it was not always possible
to remove quickly, but which. on the
contrary, often led to long strikes.
may be attributed to the energetic
propaganda of the employment bureau"
Won IgePs close connection with the
enterprise is indicated by number of
items. For example, there is nota-
ton to the effect that H. Samson had
esta blished a Liebau branch Office in
Detroit an entry OF $50 paid to DR.. Max
Niven of Chicago in February, 1913, for
the labor fund and an inquiry ad-
dressed by a bureau official to Won Igel.
asking whether the Bosch magnetic
works manufactured fuses for shells.
the bureau having evidently been ap-
piled to for workmen for the Bosch
plant. The reply. in the negative,
stated that the company was "univer-
sally known for it's friendly attitude
for the Germans"
John Dewey and 4rish Revolution"
Several lines Of communication be-
tween the German diplomatic service
and the Irish revolutionary movement
are indicated in the captured docu
ments. John Dewey of New York city,
now editor of the Gaelic American.
violent anti-British paper. was one of
the active agents of this connection.
Significant entries appear here and
there; references to messages from the
German embassy at Washington and
the German consulate at New York;
mention of a secret code to be employed
in communicating with him and of
cipher Devoy;" also notation, the
details Of which remain undiscovered,
concerning communication re manu-
facture hand grenades."
Dewey it was who acted, for a time at
least. as go-between for the German
secret service dealings with Sir Roger
Easement, executed by the British for
treason. There are several references
to money and messages for Sir Roger
Easement or, more Dr16uy H.. u, ana
one record of check for 81 900 for Case
ment. evidently handled by Dewey.
Letters to Bernstorff.
Devoy's intimate connection with the
German cause is disclosed in two letters
to Ambassador Won Bernstorff, the texts
Of which follow:
New York, April g. 1916.
The following communication from
confidential man John Dewey was duly
transmitted:
Letter dated March %, delayed by
censor, seems conclusive that first mes
senger arrived safe with proposal to send
supplies and that cable was suppressed.
Second also safe. Third, with change of
plans, due about April Is"
John Dewey further requests that the
following telegram be dispatched to Sir
Roger Easement:
s.No letter now possible. All funds
sent home. Sister and M. family WE'LL
Should Sir Roger be absent or i'll, then
J. D. requests that the telegram be de-
livered to John Monteith.
K N st.
To His Excellency, the Imperial Ambas-
sador, Count Won Bernstorff. Washing
ton D. c.
New York, April Is, 1916.
Herewith inclosed a report re-
ceived by us today from John Dewey.
Kindly order further steps to be taken.