Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-15
German Controlled
Munitions Factory
Seized by Palmer

SSS&Su W Ns'SsCS
Washington, Oct. 15.--A. Mitchell
Palmer. alien property custodian, an
nounced that he has taken control
of the Bridgeport Projectile Company.
of Bridgeport. Conn.,, by seizing $4,000
shares of the 10000 shares Of the COM
pany's capital stock and other prop
erty valued at 100000 held by the
company in behalf of Germany.
In making this announcement. Mr.
Palmer barred the efforts Of Count Won
Bernstein, Doctor Albert, Doctor Dem
burg, Captain Won Papen and other
German propogandists. to use the
Bridgeport Projectile Company to pre-
vent the manufacture and shipment OF
arms and munitions to the allies. His
action followed many months OF invest
'igation by Francis p. Caravan, director
Of the bureau of investigation OF the
alien property custodians office.
1t was intended to have this corpor-
alton, which Was founded for that pur-
pose. buy up all the available sup
plies Of powder. antimony, hydraulic
presses and other supplies and mate
rails essential to the manufacture OF
munitions. The scheme also involved
the negotiation OF contracts with the
allied governments to supply them with
materials of war, apparently in good
faith, but in reality with no intention
of fulfilling them. An expenditure OF
approximately s10,000,000 was con-
templated.
Mr.. Garvan also found that the Ger
man government had furnished the
money with which the Bridgeport: firm
acquired it's lands. erected it's fac
tory buildings and fully equipped the
factory with machinery and certain
materials; that the company had made
a contract with the German agents
not to sell any munitions to any coun-
try with which Germany was at war:
the company contracted for the entire
output Of powder of the Aetna Elk
plosives Company. Inc. Of Jan. 1, 1915,
for which approximately 100000 was
expended. These powder contracts
were Cancelled, and the funds advanced
were returned to Germany. He also
found that the company had contracted
to manufacture for Germany 100000
shrapnel cases. the obvious purpose of
which was to furnish a plausible ex-
cuse for it's purchase Of powder, press
es, ETC.; and that the company was In
turn protected by guarantee OF the
Guaranty Trust Company that it would
meet it's draft properly signed to the
extent of $5,00O.0co.
In addition to Won Bernstorff. Albert
Dernburg, and Won Papen, Carl Hey
men. one time an American consul In
Mexico but then the associate of Doc
tor, Albert and representative OF the
German Central Purchasing Agency,
and Hans Tauscher. husband of Mad
anne Gadski, and the American rep
resentative of Krupp. Mauser and other
German munition manufacturers, were
members of the coterie of plotters
Heynen is now interned as dangerous
alien.
George W. Hoadley, an American
citizen Of Bridgeport Conn, who was
a friend of Tauschers, caused the arm
to be incorporated under the laws OF
Connecticut in 1915. q
On April l, 1915, shortly after the
incorporation Of the company, Hoadley
and one George w. Cline, an Ameri-
can citizen Of Temple, Tex. entered in
to a contract for the ostensible manu-
facture Of 100000 shrapnel cases at
price of $3.50 each. 1t was never In
tended to manufacture all of these
shells, and the contract was for the
purpose Of furnishing a plausible reas-
on for the purchase by the Bridgeport
Projectile Company.
One Of the conditions of the agree
ment was that no arms or ammuni-
ton were to be manufactured anL
shipped to France, England or Russia
or to any person or corporation othel
than to Germany or the United States
without the written consent Of the re-
representatives. Of Germany.
Mr.. Hoadley insisted, however, upor
the right to manufacture for the Unit
ed States government. At this time
there was no expectation this country
would be involved in the conflict, and
all Germany's plans were predicated or
the pretense she would be victorious
by the end Of 1915.
Mr.. Caravans investigation also dis
closed that the parties to these agree
ments used every endeavor to concea
the interest Of the Imperial German
government in the Bridgeport Project
lie Company. The contract of April l
1915. was recited in the record book.
OF the corporation. but the assignment
to Won Igel, the trust agreement and
the substituted contract OF April II
1915, were not set forth.
1t was by the discovery Of these doc.
uments that the true facts became
known Prior to the investigation the
Bridgeport Projectile Company hat
filed report under the trading with
the enemy act" in which 1t was statet
that there were no enemy interests
beneficial or otherwise,;<in itsN capita
stock and It had not reported the pro
perry In Its possession Of the agsregnt!
value Of 100000 held by It for and IL
behalf Of the Imperial German govern:
ment. 5s5,- 4; Il. s.. 81 - 4
GREATER DEMAND FOR RELIEF.
Fifth Winter OF War 70 IA Most Try.
sss.s. w eina ~ 0nlnSan Ctvilla0a rs, I'll gfi