The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-17
NO DETAILS GIVEN
OUT IN DUNBAR CASE
But Man Arrested Suspected of Being
German Agent Had Ample OPP
portunity 90 Learn Naval
Sserrpf&

Washington, oct. 16.---willia1n L.
1 Dunbar. arrested In New York en- sus-
pIcion OF being German agent and
informed at Ellis Island, had ample
opportunity to learn American naval
secrets,
This was made plain in an official
statement authorized by Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels tonight after Dun
bars record as an officer OF the
United States naval reserve had been
scanned and he had been dismissed
from the navy. The statement says:
William Lewis Dunbar was enroll
ed March 20. 1917. in the provisional
rank of ensign. L. S. n. reserve force
in the Third naval district. New York.
ON April ., 1917. he executed the
acceptance and oath of office, which
document states that he was born
June .. 1893. in Hamburg, Germany,
and claims citizenship in the state of
Pennsylvania.
After enrolment he was on duty in
the Third naval district. and on june
WAS ordered detached from the fed
eral rendezvous at the foot of Fifty
second street, Brooklyn, y. Y. and
directed 10 take charge. Of a patrol
ship.
ON August he was detached from
that ship and ordered to duty in fit-
ing out another patrol vessel.
He submitted IA request for trans
Ter to the aviation section of the navy,
but 1t was disapproved May Is.
After an Investigation by the office
OF naval Intelligence, Dunbar was dis
charged from the navy by direction
of "A telegram from the bureau of navi-
cation, October 8. to the command
ant of the Third naval district"
punbar's discharge from the navy
removes him from Danger of being
tried by court martial fhs a spy, Sec
Rotary Daniels indicated today. He
declared the case was now in the
hands Of the department of justice
and they would deal with 1t.
Made Improper Statement
How Dunbar got into the navy and
the exact reason for his discharge
was not made public, but 1t was said
at tho department that improper
statements regarding himself had
been an actuattng cause for the dis
charge.
/ Secretary Daniels would disclose
none Of the facts obtained through
the investigation of Dunbar's conduct
hy the Office OF naval intelligence. but
1t was Indicated that these facts had
been turned over to the department
Of Justice and That HE arrest was the
result
Il inquired to learn why Dunbar
/ had been enrolled as an ensign" Mr..
/ Daniels said, "and find that under the
/ law the ommandsnts Of the thirteen
! naval Districts were allowed some lati-
tude In enrolling candidates.
70, 1lflg
That was changed several months ago
and no men are now enrolled as Off
GERS unless they pass the required ex-
animation. Some of those enrolled
without examinatio. proved TO have
--tt-. krowfrtTr ~ seHynansnIB aud a
/ number were either dropped from the
/ rolls of the naval reserve or reduced
To the ranks"
f! officials of the bureau OF naSiga-
ton and the Office az naval intelI-
gence refused TO comment on the case
or TO disclose the reason why an in
yestigation OF Dunbar's conduct was
} ordered. Unoff1elal advices state that
his. actions on board the patrol SHIP
which he commanded were primarily
responsible for the inquiry.
! Dunbar's apparent anxiety TO get
! into the aviation service is pointed out
here an significant.
/ The case Of the reported dropping
( of an army officer from the rolls
| Captain stark. formerly associated
with George Sylvester Fiertck, pro
German WRITER and editors. was
brought tt, the attention ~ ssecre-
tary OF War BAKER today.
J THE case has been called to my
attention officially" said MI Baker
but / will not discuss It at this time