New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-09-03
Becker Reveals
Harmless Letter
Used by Hun Spy
lnnocently Worded Per-
sonal Note Proves To Be
German Firms Code

No single problem with which the
authorities in this country have been
obliged to cope recently has been more
insidious or more difficult to trace than
the lines of communication constantly
maintained between German propa-
gandists and business concerns in Ger
many, Deputy Attorney General Alfred
l.. Becker said yesterday. 1t has been
carried on by such devious means and
in such cunning fashion as almost to
defy detection at times.
Much of this secret correspondence
has been carried on through the me-
dunn Of neutral countries, particularly
Sweden. The favorite method, not only
of the propagandists, but of business
concerns, has been to employ most
intricate code, which could be trans
mitted through an apparently harmless
social letter.
AS an example of this method, Mr..
Becker made public yesterday the fol-
lowing letter, written on the stationery
of the Hotel Schenlcy, Pittsburgh, I'M
der date of April 80, 1917:
"Mr. Erich Rothenberg.
Dear MIR. Rothenberg:
II trust that this letter will reach
you promptly and find you we'll and
happy. Undoubtedly you have re-
celvcd the various letters our friend
Peraco and l wrote you up to the end
of March and the first days of April.
Mr.. Penaco has not written you
lately, although he is SO far very
we'll and active. 1t is, however, not
desirable, according to physicians
to write letters. You must there
fore not worry if you do not hear
from Pcnaco. He is all right, and, I
understand, quite prosperous.
GAS to myself and our other
friends, can only report the best.
We are busy as usual, and as to my
private and business life there is
nothing special to report, as YOU are
familiar with the quiet and satisfac-
tory routine of life in this city. We
have very nice weather for the last
few weeks and it is genuine pleas
ure now to have the train rides every
day and to enjoy the springtime
resurrection of nature.
iSAS 10 NV iiUCu new 10 report
and we can only hope that everything
will come out to the best. l am very
anxious to hear how you are getting
along and am quite sure that mar
ried life agrees with you very we'll;
| want to avail myself of the oppor-
tunity of asking you to convey nv
best respects to Mrs. ROthenbere.
and with very best wishes remain"
VERY sincerely yours"
An analysis of the letter. Mr.. Becker
said, disclosed that the letter was sent
from the Pennsylvania Car Company,
of Pittsburgh, and was intended for
Ornstein & Koppel, of Berlin, of which
concern the Pennsylvania Car Com
pany is a branch. The general in
formation contained was that the
American branch was doing salts
factory business; that the managers
had taken legal advice-that being the
meaning of according to physicians
advice"-and must stop sending de-
tails Of business done to Berlin,
Mr.. Becker cited the letter, he said
not SO much because of its actual con,
tents but merely as an example of
how clcverly Germany's correspondents
maintained communication. He added
that the Department of Justice had
made great progress in breaking up
this line of communication and init
mated that the government had in it's
possession great masses of evidence
which, at the present time, it could
not give to the nrh1ic