Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-02
WAR WITH MEXICO
IN R|NTELEN PLOT
Advertising Man SWears Ger
man Spy Also Sought to En-
broiI U. S. and Japan.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May Efforts to en-
broil this country with Mexico and
Japan SO as to stop the shipment of
munitions from the United States to the
entente allies were, by his own asscr-
ton. made by Capt. Franz Rintelen of
the German navy, according to testi-
mony given here today at his trial on
a charge of conspiring with seven other
men, Americans. to foment strikes in
munition factories and on docks.
The testimony was given by John C.
Hammond, an advertising man, who
said R!ntelen came to him with a plan
to carry on pro-German publicity
campaign.
II notified Secretary Tumulty and the
Department Of Justice when things
went this far Mr.. Hammond said. Il
wrote a letter saying that Rintelen had
stated to me that he was doing all in
his power to embroil this country with
Mexico, because II this country had war
with Mexico it would stop the shipment
only matter of time before German
diplomacy would embroil this country
with Japan"
Spent $4,000.
Up to this time. Mr. Hammond said,
he had spent $4,000 or $4,000 on 'le-
climate advertising propaganda" Tor
Rintelen.
When the trial was resumed today. Rim
telen was ready. his counsel said. to tell
everything he knew Of the strike con-
spiracy.
The outstanding features of previous
testimony against the accused men, all
of which was given by George Ploch-
man.. treasurer of the Transatlantic
cf M
That Rintelen. shortly after he ar
rived in this country from Germany in
April. 1915. deposited $50S.o00 with the
Transatlantic Trust Company here. and
but $4,000. ~
That more than $4,000 was paid to
David Lamar. called "the wolf Of Wall
street" who. the government charges.
acted as Rintelen's chief agent in
financing plots.
Urged Union Appropriation.
That Rintelen instructed George
Plochman as treasurer of the trust
company ito cash his checks irrespec-
tive of who presented them"
That a resolution adopted at a meet
ing OF IAbor's National Peace Council, of
which former Representatives Frank
Illinois. and others Of the defendants
are alleged to have been the organizers,
called upon afaliated labor organiza-
tions to appropriate money for the
purpose of "paralyzing the private arms
and munitions traffic in this country
. A transcript of the minutes of this
meeting. which was said to have taken
place in Washington in August. 1918.
was introduced through the first wit
ness, Alexander II. Gait, official stenog-
rapher of the meeting.
Using the name of Hansen. Rintelen
came to him, Mr.. Hammond testified. in
April, 1915. and they discussed the pro-
posed publicity campaign.
He told me-, the witness said, "he
wanted to bring about better under
standing between the United States and
Germany. He said that Germany and
the United States should dominate the
worlds trade after the war. There
could not be any peace, he said, until
the shipment of munitions from this
country was stopped. He said he did
right to sell ammunition to the allies
and was seeking legal advice as to a
way to stop it. but found difficulty get
ting a law firm. as he found they SYM
pathiZed with the allies"
Lusitania Checked Plans.
The witness said he saw Rintelen
again the day after the Lusitania went
down, and Rintelen decided it would
then be waste of time to carry on the
campaign in view of that event.
But he said" continued Mr. Ham
mond, he believed that when Ameri-
cans understood the real conditions
that this war was being financed by
Wall street. they would join in to stop
the shipment of munitions. and that he
had now reached the conclusion that he
must have strikes in this country to
stop the munitions traffic The war he
said he believed. would be won in this
country. not on the field of battle He
said he was in touch with labor lead
ers for the purpose of calling strikes"