New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-20
Sent Men to Get Military
Facts in Great Britain,
Is Charge
Saw "Newspaper Men"
Used Invisible Ink
Authorities Assert lnforma-
ton Went to Berlin via
United States

Albert A. Sander, a former re-
porter on the "Staats-Zeitung,"
was arrested yesterday with
Charles Wunnenberg, who is as
sociated with him in the Central
Power War Film Exchange, at l5O
Nassau Street, as the head of spy
syndicate that plotted against the
neutrality of the United States.
Spies hired in New York were
smuggled into Great Britain in the
guise of newspaper correspondents,
it is alleged, and, returning as Amer
ican citizens, brought with them
documents written in sympathetic
ink which betrayed war secrets. In
formation of value to Germany was
promptly transmitted, it is asserted,
from the New York headquarters.
With another reporter of the
'Staats-Zeitung" Sander attained
rotoriety two years ago, when it was
charged that they lured Mrs. Rich
ard P. Stegler into hotel room In
an attempt to make her recant a
statement against Captain Boy-Ed
in connection with passport plots.
Then they charged her with as
sault. She was arraigned and dis
charged, and Magistrate Barlow ex-
pressed disappointment over his in
ability TO send the complainants to
the workhouse.
Sander. according TO Charles A. ober-
wager, his attorney, has been a citizen
Of the United States for twenty-five
years. Mr. 0berwager did not know
whether WunnenberG was citizen.
Sander is president Of the Central Pow
ers War Films Exchange, whose offices
are on the fifteenth floor of $50 Nassau
Street. Wunnenberg is his assistant.
Sander was arrested at his home, and
Wunnenberg at the film company's Of
nee.
Says They Hired Men
According 10 William NJ. Offey, local
superintendent of the Department Of
Justice, Sander and Wunnenberg are
charged with hiring men and sending
them to Great Britain to obtain maps,
charts and photographs and plans OF
military Importance, transmitting them
70 this country in packages and in
letters written in sympathetic ink.
Once here he information, it is al
legged, was disseminated TO agents
Of the Central powers, principally Ger
many. Secret Service agents have been
working on the case for months, il was
said, having received tip on the al
legged operations soon after the arrest
in England Of George Vaux Bacon, an
American newspaper man.
Bacon's photograph was forwarded
to this country by the British govern
ment it was said, and through this the
Federal agents declare that they were
able to connect him with the operations
Of the pair arrested last night
Worked Almost a Year
The alleged activities Of the junta,
which is said TO nave sent at least ff-
teen spies TO England and Ireland in
the guise Of newspaper correspondents,
have been traced back to May, 1916.
Federal agents asserted that every.
thing Of military or naval character
was grist for the plotters' mill. Travel
i'ng as American citizens, they con-
;lhued, the Correspondent" had
brought back TO the United States
headquarters a great mass OF letters
snd documents TO be sifted out at
envre and by more astute minds.
William Flynn. chief Of the Secret
service, led the agents who made the
arrests. The charge is conspiracy to
OBTAIN military information in Great
britsin and forward 10 TO Germany
thfough the United States. Superin-
knosnt ORcy syore 20 the complaint
20 SlIbfu Dy 1uNb' A'''"NN
nano. John &. Knox, assistant prosee-
Gator N charge Of the criminal branch
~ the Department Of Justice, prepared
ne charges
ne complaint in detail charges:
nat Sander and Wunnenberg did
,soni0usly cOnspire 70 violate Section
OF the United States Penal Code, IN
ssat they began and set on foo. ar
tngements for a military enterprise,
% conducted within the jurisdiction
~ me United States, against the ter
'tortss and dominions Of foreign
sates with which the United States
Ireland"
Charges Will Fall
- ne complaint further charges that
~ eonspired 40 send out from Man
.sh various persons to act as spies,
~ ~ pursuance Of that conspiracy
,ps Information ysg forwarded 20 the