The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-03-01
tBy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, March. lat Co
lumbus. N. NJ. It is charged that Ger
man influences were responsible for
the Villa raid, with the object of fore
ing Intervention by the United States,
which was expected to draw the at
tention Of the American military fore
es and munitions and consequently cut
down the munitions exports to the al
lies.
The army intelligence officers are in
possession OF information which seems
to imply possible connection Of Theo-
dore Kock, or Kouch, German vice
consul at Parral, Mexico, with the at.
tack by Mexican troops on the Ameri-
can cavalry under Major Tompkins
while in pursuit Of the Villa bandits.
Although American officers say they
did not find Kock at Parral when they
we're there, they have received reports
that he urged the Mexicans to attack
the American troops in order to pre-
vent the capture of Villa, fearing it
would be followed by revelations of the
alleged German influence behind the
raid. One high army officer said:
Suspect kock Took Part.
i
thing if not great deal to do with
trouble at Parral."
From other sources information has
come to the government of other Ger
man activities and influences in Mex
leo. DR.. Krum-Heller, a German ac-
tive in Mexico many years, is reported
to be very close to General Carranza
and active in conducting pro-German
propaganda in Mexico. Other infor-
nation in the hands of government in
telligence officers is that Macmillan
Klaus, a German. is in charge of the
Carranza ordnance factories which
have been establed near Mexico City.
None Of these facts in itself Is re-
garded as having direct relation to
the proposal of Germany to Mexico
and Japan, but it is realized they are
collateral evidences of Germany's gen.
eral plans.
May Never Become Public.
It is probable that full account of
German intrigues in this country, as
well as in Central and South America,
of which this government has knowl-
edge, may never become publicly
known, but it is possible that they
may, according to the turn of events.
1t is known positively, however, that
evidence of the activities of Count Won
Bernstorff, sufficient to force his de-
parture from the country at any time,
were in the hands Of the government
even before it knew Of the attempted
intrigue with Mexico and Japan.
Safe conduct on the high seas, in
addition to freedom to leave the
United States by any port they choose,
was demanded for the German consuls
in this country by the Berlin govern
ment, Immediately after the break in
relations. While it was not explicitly
stated that permission for the four
American consular officers. who re-
NAMED in Germany after Ambassador
Gerard's withdrawal, to proceed to
new posts in Turkey was dependent
upon this concession of safe conduct
by the United States government, it
was made plainly apparent to the
state department that there was some
connection between the cases by the
vexatious and unnecessary obstacles
placed by Germany in the way Of the
departure of the American consuls,
who even yet remain in Germany, un-
able to cross into Austria and thence
to Turkey. They are not technically
detained" but the obstacles thrown
in their way are certain military rules
governing the movements of civilians
across the borders which invariably
have been waived as a matter of in
ternational comfy in similar cases.
State Department Amazed.
State department officials were
amazed at the German demand for