South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-07
REVEAL WORK Of
HUNS At CAPITAL
BernStOrff'S Statements Are
Placed Before Committee
From u. S. Senate.

j-o14oS N'elA4AAS Win the aEAAflLlt u
German agents and others in the
United States were placed Friday be-
fore the senate committee Investigate
ing brewers and German propaganda
by a. Bruce Bielaski, chief Of the
departments bureau OF investiga-
ton.
The records dealt with correspond
ence Of Count Won Bernstorff, former
German ambassador, and others con-
corning the possible purchase Of the
/ Washington Post and other news
papers; the sending OF William
Bayard Hale 20 Germany as CORE
spondent of the Hearst newspapers.
described by Won Bernstein az having
"OutspOkenly placed themselves on
the German side" and the sugges-
tions of fomenting trouble between
t the United states and Japan as a
means Of stopping munitions ship
ments 10 the allies.
Won BernstOrlf'S Message.
! Mr. Bielaski told the COMMITTEES
that under date of oct. II, 1914,
Count Won Bernstorff sent this mes
/ sage from Washington TO DIR. Ber-
Inard Dernburg and Heinnerich AL
bert, German propaganda agents in
I New York:
! The WASHINGTON Post was offered
me today TO buy for 100000 wilh
l the understanding 70 buy back again
after the war for a million and "a
( half. A second offer was 10 put the
paper entirely at our disposal for two
months for 100000 The paper is
1 of Importance as the only large
( newspaper of the capital. How DO
/ you stand on the question of the
money / have not yet inquired at
Berlin"
There was nothing to show that
any ply was made. but Mr.. Bielasili
said that under date Of Oct 81. 1915,
the German ambassador sent this
message 10 the Berlin foreign office
in cipher:
In the official accounts for the
first and second quarters of 1916 will
be found entries Of payments to M.
Theodore Lowe. As IN this 1 have 20
report that this gentleman is Of Ger
man origin and is married TO Ger
man lady. He offered as his services
10 work on a paper in Washington,
the National Courier. This offer
came at the time we were deeply re-
GREETING the death of John r. Nc
Lean. This gentleman had given his
newspaper an entire anti-English
character, so that his death left a
great gap which the National COur-
| Ter can unfortunately never hope to
FIJI The Washington Post has since
/ then been fairly neutral, but may be
entirely lost TO US il it cannot, as Is
Very mueh desired, be put into the
hands of Mr., Hearst"
Post Leaned Toward Britain.
Under date of Aug. ?. 1916, Mr.
( Rielaslii said. this communication
was sent to the Berlin foreign office
and was signed by Or. II. X. Feuhr,
la former German consular agent in
the orient, who came 10 the United
states early in 1914.
THE Washington Post, whose
neutral attitude toward the belliger-
ents during the present war has won
for it warm recognition from the
| German side. has of late materially
| changed it's tone in questions of Eu-
the way 10 Join our enemies.
From reliable sources 1 learn
that this change OF front is due to
/ the Russian am bassador in Wash
/ ington. After the death of its for
/ mer owner, John r. Mclean, the
Washington Post, together with the
| Cincinnati Enquirer, came into the
/ hands Of the son of the first men
toned. on whom mis- aunt, Madame
/ Bakhmeten, is said 70 have great in
huence.
With Nmthcliffc Ring.
Mr.. Mclean, junior inaugurated
his ownership by naming as editorial
director one Bill Sturgeon, who is
said 10 be a British subject, and a
nephew Of Robert Porter, one of
the chief leaders OF the Northcliffe
ring"
Another communication produced
| by Mr.. Bielaski, and alleged TO have
been written by Samuel Untermyer
| Of New York, TO Albert in February,
1916. dealt with the purchase OF a
New York paper for 100000. The
name OF this paper was not mention
I
| Bielaski said there were indications
| that il was the New York Sun. The
letter said in part:
/ II have received word that our
] opportunity has now arrived 20 ac-
| quire that morning and evening
\ paper about which we have been
talking and that il can be had at
! price slightly under 100000 for
! four-siXths Of the capital stock
which includes valuable real estate
! on Park Row but that action must
/ be taken Immediately.
Under proper conditions my
I friends would be willing 10 take "a
/ one-fourth interest. provided some
/ arrangement could be made giving
/ them the option 10 acquire the ma
I jority interest at future date, say
after the clapse OF one or two years
from the close of the war which
would aaord every opportunity that
could be possibly wanted
Hearst Ignorant of Facts.
Mr.. Bielaski also produced a copy
( Of a message relating 10 Or. Hale
going 70 Germany for the Hearst
/ newspapers which. ne said. was Sent
d 4