The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-09

NEW YORK, July General
Pershing and the nrst contingent Of
American troops sailed for France
from an Atlantic port under the
watchful eyes Of hundreds Of Germans
employed by this Government And
through one of these Germans the u
boat commanders probably learned Of
the sailing OF the transports.
Men with German names are still
employed on and about the piers from
which the transports sailed. Most Of
these men are former employees OF the
HGmourE-Ameriean Line, whose off,
eials and employees almost to q man
were in the Kaissr's secret service
KinGnan Of PIotter.
One OF these men, who holds q
trusted position. is q relative q q
German who pleaded guilty to q
charge Of eonspIring TO smuEEle sup
plies into Germany.
He II also . crony OF Capt Charles
Won Kleist, who, although q NATURAL
lied American and a resident Of this
country for thirty-nVe years, partici-
P@NCN Al NAG pAON " AGbNEN6 AAllCo
shipping By means OF IRE bombs when
Papen's Prussian underlings
One of the watchmen on these piers
Is q former employee OF the Hamburg
American Line. The gardener is a
naturalized German. formerly en-
ployed by the Hamburg-American
Line. One OF the telephone operators
II the son of an official of a German
steamship line.
Tug Crew Knew Plans.
The German crew OF one OF the
Hamburg-American line tugboats Is
still kept on the vessel. and was on IL
when It was plying between the
transports laden with American troops
before they left.
The German members of this tug
boat crew knew days in advance that
the troops would embark, where they
would sail from, and when they
would sail
Let US assume" said a high Fed
erL official, that all Of these men
| OF German extraction or German
naturaliEed Americans, who are still
employed here, are loyal to the
United States, as they profess.
what Is more natural than that
one or more OF them should talk
| about the movement OF troops over
Seidel Of beer with some Prussian
Acquaintance or relative?
And what IL more natural than
| that this Prussian should take advan-
tage Of our uncensored cables and
convey the information TO a German
spy abroad? The situation is almost
incredible"
wedding Out Necessary.
One Of the Germans formerly en-
ployed by the neutrality-suspicious.
Line, and who was employed on and
about the transports which were later
attacked by U-boats, is suspected Of
having revealed the information that
resulted in the U-boat attack.
Fourteen Of these former Hamburg
American Line employees, exclusive OF
| the tugboat crew. are employed about
the piers from which the American
/ troops embarked.
The quartermaster's department Of
the United States army. which en-
ploys these men, has no choice but II
employ them. Said q Federal official
today:
This is not the doings of the army,
II Is up TO the marine superintendent
There IL no question but that there
should be q wedding out But the
higher authorities were assured by
some OF these Germans whom ! would
not employ willingly. of their loyalty
and so they are here"
Germans Had Passes.
Other Federal officials admitted
that three well-dressed Germans were
found lurking late at night, shortly
after the transports sailed. within the
rallied Enclosure surrounding the
piers.
A sentry challenged them. They
halted. When searched. each was
found to have q pass such as wa
issued to the longshoremen employed
IN making ready the transports. II
I