New-York tribune., 1918-08-26
Inspired Interviews Were
Used Here After War
Opened, Odell Says
Predicted Uprising
Against the Junkers
Rumely's Aid Tells of Plan
to Lull America by
Talk of Revolt

Deputy Attorney General Alfred L.
Becker, who for the last year has been
investigating German propaganda un-
der the direction of Attorney General
Lewis, yesterday made public testl-
mony showing how the Kaiser himself
since this country entered the war was
RESPONSIBLE for the report that the
German masses were about to revolt
against their masters and set up
democracy in Germany.
The object of this propaganda was
to deceive the people Of America,
Great Britain and France as to real
conditions in Germany and lead them
to believc-especially Amerlcans-tha
there was no need of any big military
programme on the part of America, as
the German masses would end the war
by overthrOWlng the kalser ana the
Junker party.
Odell Given Interview
The Kaiser had his financial adviser,
DR.. Won Gewinncr, general manager of
the Deutsches Bank, and DR.. Won Roe
digger, of the German Foreign Office
and head of the German Censorship
Bureau, and other agents, give inter
views to George r. Odell, "The New
York Evening Mail" correspondent, who
accompanied Count Won Bernstor.f to
Berlin when diplomatic relations were
severed by this country with Germany.
These were published in "The New
York Evening Mail" and in other news
papers in this country, as as we'll az
in British dailies.
In these Interviews which "The
New York Evening Mail" pub
Gshed last December these intimate ad-
revolution was imminent in Germany
and that all classes except the junk
ers were behind the revolution. "The
Mail" as has been charged by the At
torney Generals office, was purchased
by the Kaiser through his alleged
dummy. DR.. Edward A. Rumely.
"Odell, when he went to Berlin"
said Deputy Attorney General Becker,
"took with him letters of introduction
from Dr.. Rumeiy % ran-German lead
ers in Germany, notably DR.. Koertz. of
Gaeverntz, of Frelburg. Odell in his
testimony admits that DR.. Roediger
was very desirous of having an article
written setting forth the alleged strong
democratic tendency in Germany,
which was on the eve of overthrowing
the Prussian Junkers and democratic
ing Germany. Odell testiies that Dr.
Roediger, to enable Odell to write this
article arranged for him to meet DR..
Heckscher, a member of the Reichstag.
DIR. Roediger then desired that this
article should be sent out of the coun-
try by cable and not by wireless.
"If it should have been wirelessed
it would have reached Russia and
Spain and any other country where
they had wireless receiving stations
equipped to receive communications
sent by the German wireless at Berlin.
AT this very time, which was early
in the fall of 1917, the news being
sent out of Germany to Russia was to
the effect that the German labor
classes were about to uprise and over
throw the middle classes as we'll as the
Prussian Junkers. However, this kind
of alleged news was not what was
wanted for circulation in England and
in the United States, whereas it was
evidently believed by the German For
eign Office that the welcome news
which would be readily believed by the
people would be news that the middle
and lower classes would overthrow the
power of the Junkers and establish a
democratic and not a Socialistc gov
ernment.
"This undoubtedly is the explana-
tion why DR.. Roediger wanted the
statement sent by cable and not bv
wireless and in this way the news
would be received by France England
and the United States, and if an ex-
planation would be necessary to Rus
sla or any other country that another
method OF propaganda was being used
germany could easily claim that the
Engllsh had talsihed their news.
After Odell returned to the United
IN
series of articles intended to be svn
dIcated throughout the United States.
he material for these articles was
largely pumped into Odell by Professor
Gaevernitz and DR.. Roediger, whom he
met at Stockholm directly before sail
ing for America The articles were
prepared in December. 1917, and they
are represented as the testimony Of
one lately in Germany They point out
the imminence of revolutionary
movement in Germany by which the
Kaiser would be oyerthrown and they
go so far as TO say that the war is un-
popular in Germany, that the great
masses-including the smaller traders
but not the big business men-regart
the war as something being thrust
upon them by the Prussian junkers
and they are not back of it,
'io C"H views W ere DlUere
"Odell further states that shortly
after he returned to America he call ed
upon Secretary of State Lansing, and
when asked whether he did not realize
that the people running the govern
ment IN Washington had to dcpnd on
pubic opinion and that they could not
put through legislation unless il was
backed UP by public opinion, he an
hwcrcd:
Yes, recognize that, but I can tell
you and | thank God can prove it.
because | had witnesses that when I
went 70 see Lansing told him that it
was all right 20 20 ahead with the DO
lncal democracy offensive against Ger
many, but that it would require the
raisinR Of An army Of 5000 900 men to
beat them
at Is interesting to get the contrast
between Odcils alleged statement to
Secretary Of State Lansing and his
articles. In his articles Odell made
II PLAIN that there Wag no necessity
oY any great military effort on the
part Of the United States, because. as
Cdell put IL, Kaise rism and the Junkcr
party would be overthrow By the
TnasHes ii Germany. Odclls articles
were ol such nature that Virgil V
MeNitt. the manager of Thc Evening
Mail fyndicatc, Wh"n examined. stated
tnat ne questioned YcrY much the
propricty of these arficlcg. and in
tjYnantIy refused 10 print them for
sale ~ aew>papcrs throughout the