New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-01
Mexican Plot
Long Known to
Agents of U. S.
Secret Service Have Been
Picking Up Trails for
a Year

For more than a year the secret
agents of the United States govern
ment have been picking up trails,
patching together clews, worming out
information all leading to the conclu-
sion made certain by the revelation o.
Germany's intrigues this morning.
Since it became even remotely posi-
ole that the future might see the
United States ranged against the Kaiser
in the world war. German agents in the
United States and Mexico have been
preparing FOR eyentualitles.
Evidence of this has been picked ~
by secret service agents again and
again. When Wolff Won lgol was ar
rested, charged with completely in the
attempt to dynamite the Welland
Canal. the papers which were taken
from his Office gave proof that he had
intrigued with Mexico against the
United States.
II will be remembered That Count
Won Bernstorif fought bitterly to re-
gain possession of these documents,
which were coniscated when govern
ment agents Iaided Won lgel's Offices at
60 Wall Street. But when the GER
man Ambassador was requested TO iden-
tify the papers, he refused, despite his
demand that they be returned.
1t is probable that even at that time
the Unied States government knew
their import. If BerEst0r.f had identi-
fed them, il would have been virtual
admission of his completely I'm plot 10
sir up trouble between the United
States and Mexico.
These papers remained sealed. while
the fight to regain them continued
Later, it is now understood, they
formed q basis for future work by the
Secret Service agents.
Other German emissaries arrested IN
the United States bore with them more
evidence Of collision between the
Kaiser and Carranza. Many Of the
documents taken from Lieutenant Fay,
who engineered the plot to blow IN
munitions ships with time bombs, were
never made public, !rt were turned
over to the State De- a'iment as basis
for future work H. the : cret Service.
Agents Sent t. Mexico
At the first hint of future German
insured trouble betW en- the United
States and Mexico, the best mel Of the
Secret Service were sent INTO Mexico.
Agents OF the Treasury Department ac-
COMMANDED them. The men have been
working there ever since through New
York and Chicago offices Of the Secret
Service. 1t is probably due 20 their
efforts that the note was made public
to-day.
When Captain Horst Won der Goltz
was arrested and held in England as a
German spy, Parliament published his
confession. This showed clearly that
he had been implicated in the Mexican
plot Won der Goltz was an officer IN
the Mexican army for some time. 1t
is believed that it was then that he
began 10 clear the way for the action
which Zimmerman took last month.
When Captain Hans Iauseher. hus-
band Of Nine. Johanna Gadskl, the
opera star. was held as a conspirator
in the Welland Canal plot, further eyi-
denco of the attempts 10 arouse Mexico
against the United States were diseov-
cred in his belongings. TauscheT went
back to Germany on the Frederik VIII.
leaving behind in q warehouse. IN
Houston Street, millions of cartridges
and a quantity Of Mauser rifles and
machine guns.
Was krupp's Agent
Tauscher was agent Of the krupps m
this country. On his departure, the
store Of arms and ammunition was sold
10 agents of South American govern
ments. Il was believed by the secret
service at that time that these agents
were representatives Of Germany. TAX
ing the weapons out Of the country TO
dump them into Mexico II crisis
should arise.
When the Won lgel papers were con
Ggcated. "The Providence Journal,
whose editor is known to be on terms
Of close intimacy with the heads Of the
British secret service in this country,
! said:
president Wilson and Secretary
{ Lansing arc greatly concerned over the
revelations discovered By q careful
rcgding OF the papers seized from
Wolf Won lgel IN the Office Of Captain
/ Won Papcn. By reason of this seizure
1 ard the fact that they are compelled
/ 10 take cognizgnce Of the content OF
such documents, they are face 10 face
/ With q situation which, ~ effect, 81 not
| IN character. rs quite as serious as
! that produced by Germany's submarine
warfare