Evening journal., 1918-10-11
MUNITIONS CORNER
ENEMY PLOT HERE
Bridgeport Concern Seized
by U. S. Planned to Spend
$10,000,000
HUNS SUPPLIED
NECESSARY FUNDS

WASHINGTON, Oct IA. Mitchell
Palmer, alien property custodian, yes
terday announced that he had taken
control OF the Bridgeport Projectile
Company OF Bridgeport. Conn. by
seizlng 1890 shares Of the 10000
shares OF the company's capital stock
and other property valued qt S5OO.ODO
held by the company in behalf Of Ger
many
In making this announcement, Mr..
Palmer barred the efforts OF Count Won
Bernstorff. Doctor AlbaW Doctor Dern-
burg. Captain Won Papen and other
German propagandists TO use the
Bridgeport Proiectile Company to pre-
vent the manufacture and shipment OF
arms and munitions TO the Allies. His
action followed many months OF inyes-
iigation by Francis p. Garvan, director
of the bureau OF Investigation OF the
allen custodian's office.
lt was intended to have this Corpor-
alton, which was founded for that pur-
pose, buy up all the available supplies
Of powder, antimOny, hydraulic presses
and other supplies and materials essen
tal i'm the manufacture OF munitions.
The scheme also involved the negOtia-
tion Of contracts with the Allied Gov
ernmcnls 10 supply them with materials
Of war. apparently in good faith. but
I'm reality with no intention Of fulfilling
them. The expenditure OF approxi-
mately SlOOOO,OOO was contemplated.
Mr.. Garvan also found that the Ger
mon Government had furnished the
money with which the Bridgeport firm
acquired its lands, erected its factory
buildings and fully equipped the fac
tories with machinery and certain ma
terias: that the company had made
contract with the German agents not
10 sell any munitions to any country
with which Germany was at war; the
companv contracted for the entire out
nut Of powder OF the Aetna Explosives
Company. Inc. Of January 4, 1916, for
which approximately S5,0OOOOO was eX-
pended. These powder contracts were
cancelled. and The funds advanced were
returned 10 Germany. He also found
that the company had contracted 10
Manufacture for Germany 2OOOoO
shrapnel cases. the obvious purpose OF
which was TO furnish a plausible eX-
cuse for It's purchase OF powder
presses. etc: and that the company
was in turn protected by the guarantee
of the Guaranty Trust Company that 1t
would meet its drafts properly signed
10 the extent Of s5,00O,OOO.
In addition TO Won Bernstorf. Albert
lcrnbcrg and Won Papen Carl Heynen,
ne time an Americal consul In Mexico,
1It then the associate OF Doctor ALBERT
al representative Of the German Cen
,uscher. husband OF Madame Gadsh,
I'D the American representative OF
krupp. Mauser and other German muni-
lion manufacturers, were members OF
,hc coterie Of plotters. Heysen Is now
nterned as a dangerous alien.
George w. Hoadley, an American CIT
llen of Bridgeport, Conn, who was
friend Of Tauscher's. caused the urn
10 be incorporated under the laws OF
Connecticut in 1915.
. on April 1, 1915. shortly after the
incorporation Of the company, Hoadley
and one, George w. Clines, an Amers
lean citizen, Of Temple, Tex. entered
Into a contract for the ostensible man
ufacture OF 100000 shrapnel cases at
a price OF $3.50 each. 1t was never IN
tended 10 manufacture all OF these
shells. and the contract was for the
purpose Of furnishing a plausible rea-
son for the purchase by the Bridgeport
projectlle Company.
One Of the conditions OF the agree
ment was that no arms or ammunition
were to be manufactured and shipped
10 France, England or Russia, or to any
person or corporation other than to
Germany or the United States, without
the written consent OF the representa-
tives Of Germany.
Mr.. Hoadley insisted, however, upon
the right to manufacture for the United
States Government. At this time there
was no expectation this country would
be involved in the conflict. and all Ger
nany's plans were predicated on the
nretense 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 conceal
the interest OF the Imperial German
Government in the Bridgeport Proiec-
tile Company. The contract OF April 4, |
1915. was recited in the record books (
or the corporation. but the assignment /
10 Won lge. The trust agreement and !
the substituted contract of April 4. 1916, |