Evening star., 1918-07-16
BIG PAPER IN WEST
|. GOT GERMAN CASH
Millions Spent by Huns to In.
fluence Press, Evidence
Shows.
DR.. HALE is QUESTIONED
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July 16.-Use of Ger
man propaganda funds to obtain whole
or partial control of American news
papers has not been confined to New
York city. according to statement to-
day by Deputy Attorney General Becker
Of New York. Commenting on the in
vestigation which led to the arrest Of
DR.. Edward A. Rumely on a charge
which involves alleged purchase OF the
New York Evening Mail for the German
government In 1915, Mr.. Becker de-
clared that information in his possession
and that of the federal alien proprty
custodian, for whom he acted in the Mail
case. indicates that Teuton millions were
spent in districts far from the metrop-
oils to influence news and editorial pol
icies in favor Of the German cause. An
extensive investigation now in progress,
he asserted, may be expected to reveal
other centers of German influence and
the methods followd in putting its prop
aganda into effect.
Western Paper Suspected.
In connection with Mr.. Beckers
statement it was learned authorita-
lively today that another American
newspaper passed into German con-
troll before the United States entered
the war, in a manner similar to that
alleged to have been followed in the
case of the Mail. This newspaper is
located in the far west and action
against its ostensible owners is pre-
dicted as an early development.
Hale and Vierick Questioned.
William Bayard Hale, ealaried head
Of the German information service in
this country in 1915, and George
Sylvester Viereck, editor Of Vfereck's
Weekly. which was known as the
Fatherland until the United States
entered the wan were questioned
yesterday by Mr.. Becker in his inyes-
tigation of German propaganda in
America.
Hale was closeted with the attorney
an hour and half and Viereck for
more than four hours.
Mr.. Becker declined to comment on
the interviews. except to say that he
had questioned both men regarding
their knowledge of German expendi-
ment before this country declared
war. He said the interviews. like
that Tuesday with George T. Odell,
formerly correspondent of the New
York Evening Mail in Germany, were
part Of federal inquiry intended to
reveal who were the recipients of
some of Germany's untold millions"
spent here with the hope of keeping
the United States out of war.
He declined to say whether the con-
ference had any direct connection with
the prosecution of DR.. Edward A.
Rumely, alleged to have bought the
Evening Mail in 1915 for the German
government.
DIR. Hale came to New York from
New Hampshire in response to a re-
quest from Mr.. Becker. He declared
that he had responded "yoluntarily"
to the attorneys call and that he lis
a patriot"
By criticising what he termed the
United States bending" to Great
Britain, DR.. Hale came into promi-
nence in the first year Of the war. In
1915 he wrote articles criticising Brit
ish Interference with American ship
ping.
AS correspondent for the New York
American in Berlin, in 1915, he
charged that news from Germany to
this country was distorted by the
British censor. Later he went to the
German front and Interviewed the
crown prince. Afterward he wrote to
President Wilson, calling upon him to
Use his influence to end the war.
Hale Stayed in Germany.
When Amba Ssador Gerard was re-
called from Germany after the Amer
lean diplomatic break with that coun-
try most of the American newspaper