Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-01

by the fact that the German embassy
here was not merely the medium OF de-
livering message in this instance, but
was really sort of headquarters for
all the German missions in Central and
South America.
The German naval attache, Capt. Bly,
Ed, and the military attache. Capt. Won
Papen, whose recall was forced by the
state department because Of their mill
tary activities in this country, also were
accredited to Mexico and between the
outbreak of the war and their departure
from this country made at least one visit
there.
Base on Mexican Coast
For many months many naval officers
here have believed that the mysterious
German sea raiders of the South Allan
tic must have found a base somewhere
on the Mexican coast, and that such
base could not be maintained without
the knowledge and consent of Mexican
officials. Last November the British
charge at Mexico City presented to the
Carranza foreign office a notification that
if it was discovered that Mexican neu-
trality had thus been violated the Allies
would take drastic measures to prevent
a continuance of that situation
lnsoient Reply
In a note almost insolent in tone l or
eign Minister Aguilar replied to the
charge that, in effect, it was the business
of the Allies to keep German submarines
out of western waters, and that If they
were not kept out Mexico would adopt
whatever course the circumstances might
commend
To German influences also have been
attributed in sor2e quarters the vigorous
steps taken by the de facto finance min
lister to force loans from the Banco Ma
tional and the Bank of London and Mex
leo. owned by French and British cap
ital The institutions were closed by the
Mexican officials and some of their off,
GERS imprisoned and held for weeks de-
spite repeated protests by France, Great
Britain and the United States.
Reports of German machine guns
and German gunners in the Carranza
army also have been persistent. al
though the relative Importance Of that
to the proposed alliance is not fully
established. 1t is recalled tonight too,
that last November, when the Mexican
American joint commission was making
its futile effort to adjust the differen-
ces between the two countries the Aus
tro-Hungarian ambassador at Mexico
City. Count Kalmen Kama Votkanya,
made trip to the United States on
what he described as secret mis-
sion"
suggestion interpreted by some
officials as an indication that Germany
might have made approaches to Mexi-
co at that time was made by Cabrera
in an address at Philadelphia on Novem-
Der 10.
THE foes of the United States will
certainly assume to be friends of Mexi-
co. said Cebrera, land will try to take
advantage of any sort of resentment
Mexico may have against the United
states, Mexico. nevertheless. under
stands that in case Of a conflict be-
tween the United States and any other
nation outside America, her attitude
must be one of continental solidarity"
1t has been an open secret that de-
partment of justice agents in their in
vestigations of plots to violate Ameri-
can neutrality by setting on foot
armed expeditions in Mexico, more than
once have uncovered what appeared to
be trails OF the German secret service
A Few days ago Fred Kaiser suspected
or being a German agent, was arrest
ed at Nogales on charges brought un-
Ger the neutrality statutes, department
or justice officials declaring he had at
tempted to obtain military information
on the American side of the border and
had cultivated the society of American
army officers with an apparent inten-
ton OF promoting those efrorts.
Last July. when w. H. Schweibz. who
claimed to be former German army
officer. escaped into Mexico at Nogales
after arrest on similar charges. the depu-
ty marshal who tried to follow him was
stopped by Mexican authorities.
The full extent Of the evidence of Ger
manys plotting against the United
States gathered by the American secret
service may become known only accord
ing to the course Of future relations be-
tween the two countries. 1t is known
that much evidence of the operations of
the. German embassy and persons who
were TeSpOnSlDic " II never udS Deen per-
mitted to come out because officials pre-
ferred to guard against inflaming the
public mind in the tense situation with
Germany. The public amazement which
full exposition of the evidence in the
hands of the government would cause
cannot be over estimated.
Only today the council Of national de-
fence, created by act Of Congress. issued
an appeal to all Americans to snow ev-