The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-11
SHELL PLANT HERE
OWNED BY KAISER
Palmer Says Bridgeport Pro-
jectile Co. Was Formed by
German Plotters.
U. s. TAKES 1T OVER
BernstOrff Sought to Hamper
Munition Shipment by Buy
ing Needed Materials,

Conn.,. and that this concern had re-
ported to him property of the approx
mate value OF 100000 held by 1t for
and in behalf Of Germany.
The announcement caps many months
Of careful and persistent investigation OF
the origin and development Of this con.
Germ by Francis p. Garvan, director OF
the bureau OF investigation of the Alier
Property Custodians office. This In
vestigation barred the efforts of Count
Won Bernstorff. DR.. Albert. DR.. Dern-
burg. Capt. Won Papen and others of the
German propagandists to use the Bridge
port Prcjectile Company to prevent the
manufacture and shipment of arms and
munitions to the Allies.
CamounaEed Corporation Formed.
Mr.. Garvan found that the German
plotters OF high degree, once their crimi-
nal efforts had failed. hit upon the
scheme of creating an american" cor
poratiou. dominated apparently by
American capital and American citizens
and engaged ostensibly In the manufac-
ture of munitions or an enormous scale.
The real though yelled purpose of this
concern was to hamper and hinder and
to try TO stop altogether other Amer
lean manufacturers from making NUM-
tons. The plan was to have the Bridge
port Projectile Company buy up all the
available supplies Of powder, anthony.
hydraulic presses and other supplies and
equipment essential to the making OF
munitions The plan involved also the
20
Governments to supply the Allies with
material OF war on a large scale. These
contracts would have been veritable
Teutonic scraps of paper. for there never
would have been the least intention to
observe them, the scheme being merely
L, delay. obstruct and deceive the Allies
as to the expectation of necessary sup
plies.
So ambitious was this whole scheme
that an expenditure of at least 10000
900 BY the Imperial German Govern
uent was contemplated. Mr.. Garvan
finds, the object TO be attained, in Ger
man opinion, being easily worth even
this immense sum. Mr.. Garvan has evil
dence to prove that the German Govern
ment furnished the money with which
the Bridgeport Projectile Company &C
ouired its land, erected It's buildings and
fully equipped the factories with ma
chinery and certain materials; that the
company had made q contract with the
German agents not to sell any munitions
10 any country with which Germany was
a: war that the company contracted FOR
tho entire output OF powder OF the Aetna
EN- plosives Company. for which approei-
mately s5.o0o,000 was expended: but
these powder contracts we're eventually
n r.hl Nh had
advanced was returned to the German
Government.
Made shrapnel Case Contract.
Mt. Garvan discovered also that the
concern had contracted to manufacture
for Germany 100000 shrapnel cases,
ing to furnish a plausible excuse for
large purchases Of powder. hydraulic
presses and other material
In this ambitious undertaking the
was protected. M. Garvan
states, by guarantee OF the Guaranty
Trust Company that the trust company
would meet, up 20 $4,000, 900, properly
signed drafts OF the Bridgeport Projec-
tile Company.
In addition to Won Bernstorff. DR.. AL
bert, DR. Dernburg and Capt Won Papen
Carl Heynen. once an American consul in
Mexico, was associated in the enterprise
as an agent of the German Government.
Heynen is now interned as a dangerous
alien enemy. Another OF the coterie Of
plotters was Capt. Hans Tauscher. Nine.
Gadskrs husband. BY skilful propa-
ganda and intrigue and the instigation
of strikes and other labor troubles in
the munitions plants, together with at
tendant acts of violence, they sought TO
create a sentiment in this country in
favor OF an embargo on the shipment OF
munitions. Increasing hostility in the
minds OF the American people toward
the German Government caused the col
lapse Of this scheme. Thereafter more
definite measures became necessary. and
out OF this situation grew the Bridgeport
Projectile Company.
George w. Headley OF Bridgeport. a
friend of Tauscher and an American cjt-
zen, caused the company to be incor-
porated under the laws of Connecticut.
The capital stock was 1000, 900 in 20, 900
shares. Headley had no financial re-
sources. nevertheless all Of this stock, ex-
cept ten qualifying directors shares, was
made out TO him. As a matter of fact, the
whole enterprise, Mr.. GaryaSl ascer-
tanned. was financed by the German Cow
eminent, the funds being provided by
the Deutsche Bank under negotiations
conducted by Hugo Schmidt and DR.. AL
bert.
Assigned to Wolf Won Igel.
The contract for the manufacture of
2. 100000 shrapnei cases was assigned by
George w. Clynes, an American citizen
Of Temple, Tex. to the notorious Wolf
Won Igel. There were other tortuous
t.AN .,.- 1Aal H.. AGzk -.
hut through all Mr.. Caravan finds that tho
German Government was at all times in
control OF the Bridgeport Projectile Com
pany.
The plant was completed in the fall of
1915. Probably s7S0.oOO was actually
spent for hydraulic presses and other
equipment and material. The company
actually BEGAN manufacturing on a small
scale. having completed about 10000
shrapnel shell cases up to April /, 1916.
In the spring of that year. through the
exposure of the acts OF German agents,
Heynen In particular, the situation OF the
became very bad, banks and
refusing to deal with II.
Mr.. Caravans investigation further dis
closed that the parties to the various
agreements used every endeavor to con-
ceal the interest OF the Imperial German
Government In the Bridgeport Projectile
Company.
This concern win now work its best
for the downfall of that I. @. c., turning
put shells to shoot into German territory.
Held for Loss of Mrs. VoEei's Furs.
David Harris. 10, was held In 81, 900 ball
FOR the Grand Jury when he appeared
N the Yorkvllle court yesterday upon