New-York tribune., 1918-12-07
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and means for secretly Introducing
into tho United States explosives and
ingredients for the manufacture of ex-
plosives, which wer to be used in the
hampering Of cur military operations,
were brought to Vessels by these spc-
clal messengers of the German govern
mont 1t further states that these ex~
plosivcs were intended for use on
piers, wharvcs and vessels in ports of
the United States.
Detailed information on the methods
to be used by the spies and plotters is
revealed in the Indictment. The high
explosives were to be shipped from
l'ermany to a neutral country and then
forwarded to the United States. The
explosives were to be concealed in stone
toy building blocks and thus escape
suspicion in passing through neutral
hands.
This phase of the plot was discovered
by Agent Harry Jcntzer, Of the Depart
ment of Justice, while investigating
the activities Of Nine. Marie X. de Wv
torlca, charged with being German
spy, who was associated with Vessels
IN an alleged plot to send operatives to
ireland to prepare for the landing of a
German armed force on the Irish coast.
How Money Was Supplied
The indictments also reveal. for the
first time, the alleged elaborate hnan-
clal arrangements made for supplying
money to German spies in this country
after the United States had entered
the war. 1t is charged that from April
18, 1917, to September &, 1917, Wes-
sells received from Fricke $4,000, which
was the balance of a credit of $4,000
which had previously been transmitted
from Germany to the United States.
This money was turned over thou
sand dollars at a time, and later pay
ments amounting to $4,000 in smaller
amounts were made by Fricke to Wcs-
sells.
1t is alleged that he also received
A. Behrcns e. Co. (thc partnership
consisting Of Arend Behrens and Ru-
dolf Binder). which money had been
transmitted by agents of the German
Foreign Office operating in neutral
countries of Europe.
The indictment says that on Novem-
Der 2, 1917, Vessels requested Arcnd
Behrcns to cable to Switzerland, Swe-
den and Denmark, addressing agents Of
Germany, and asking them to convey
to the German government the infor-
nation that a large amount of money
was necessary to continue the work be-
ing carried on by Vessels in this coun-
try
Went to DR.. Schweitzcr
A remarkable part of the Indictment
sets forth how Vessels went to see Dr.
Hugo Schwetzer head of the Bayer
Company, who in 1917 was appointed
chairman of committee of the
Mayors Citizens Advisory Committee
to secure aid in his plots against the
United States. The Indictment reads:
Said Hermann Vessels, on October
!, 1917. went to the office of the EN-
ployment and Relief Committee of the
Mayors Advisory Committee, at No.
l47 Fourth Avenue, Borough of Man
haitian, City of New York, State of New
York. for the purpose of seeing Hugo
Schweitzer and of obtaining the assist
ance of said Schweitzer in said Wes-
sells acting as a secret agent for, and
spy for, and secret representative of
the Imperial German government in
the furthering and carrying on Of its
war against the United States; and
Said Hermann Vessels, from April
6, 1917, to May 2, 1918, agreed and
conspired with Albert Paul Fricke to
secure and obtain money and credits
from Germany for the use of said Wes-
sells IN his acting as secret agent for.
and spy for, and secret representative
of the Imperial German government in