New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-05
Isaac Straus Headed Chem
ical Co. Here as a
Blind
Ordered Interned
With 20 Others
Won Bruck, Propaganda,
Also Among Aliens on
Way South


two who are said to be among the most
dangerous German plotters yet taken
in custody, and two recently discharged
United States soldiers, arrived here
yesterday, and will start for Fort Ogle-
thorne, Georgia, to-day. They have
been ordered informed for the duration
Of the war.
DR.. Isaac Strauss and Joseph Won
Bruck are the two masters of Prussian
intrigue who nave been directing sys-
tenn Of espionage and propaganda
which, If successful, it is asserted,
would not only have been dangerous to
Americas cause. but fatal to many Of
Pershing's men on the battlefront.
Straus was the publisher of "The
American Jewish Chronicle" and also
president of the Chrosmos Chemical
Company, which has two large fac
tories in Brooklyn. He is known to
have made bids for making gas masks
for American soldiers, and in this way
to have tried to get the formula for
the chemicals used in the masks. Ac-
cording to Federal authorities he in
tended to send these formulas to Ber-
I'm, where German chemists might pro-
duce gas against which the masks
would be useless.
Active in Propaganda
Won Brnck has been in this country
Tor some time as agent of the Names
mann Tube Works, of Germany. He
handled large amounts of money COM
ing from Germany. He has been ac-
lively engaged in propaganda work, ac-
cordlng to officials, and has been in
communication with Berlin since the
United States entered the war.
DR., Straus, who is an expert chemist,
sent on q special mission by the Com
mittee of the East in Berlin and
brought fund of $4,000 with him to
carry on his work. In 1916 he founded
"The American Jewish Chronicle"
which has Offices in Forty-second
Street
About six weeks ago agents of the
Naval Intelligence Service arrested
Straus at the Hotel Nassau, Long
Beach, where he was living in a luxu-
rious suite with his wife and children.
to the Mercer County prison, while
agents of the government investigated
his case. This investigation has been
directed by Assistant United States At
torney Robert Stephenson, who recon-
mended that the man be interned.
The Committee of the East in Ber-
lin was founded in 1914 with an OBJ
ject of spreading propaganda which
would tend to influence Russian Jews
and convey the idea that Germany in
tended to free them. To aid this cam
paign for Jewish internationalism, as it
was termed by the Kaiser's press
agents, Straus was furnished with an
abundance of money for the work in
the United States. He was in close
touch with former Ambassador Won
Bernstorf and DR.. Dernburg.
Questioned About Funds
When Intercepted by Mr.. Stephen
sor. as to the fund handled by him,
Straus tried to explain that most of
it was credit advanced him from Ger
many. In addition to the 900
brought from Germany, he said, d
stranger came to his hotel and deliv-
cred package containing $4,000. He
denied that he knew just where this
money came from, but said that it had
all been used for the paper. Later,
Herr H. Albert, financial attache of
the German Embassy, turned over $685.
600 to him. He gave receipt for this
money, but never accounted to his
Prussian superiors for the other do
nations.
According to Mr.. Stephenson, "The
American Jewish Chronicle" has never
reflected the ideas of its German di-
rector. The paper is still being pub
Nshed and has never been in diff
Guilty with the government.
In the Chrosmos Chemical plants
large quantities of Denzoate Of soda
and toluol were kept. In addition po-
tasslum Of permanganate and sodium
OF permanganate were handled in
bulk. All of these chemicals are in
gradients of high explosives. Straus
had no permit to handle these chemi-
Gals and in doing so, being an enemy
alien, he violated the Presidents proc
lamation.
1t is believed by the Federal agents
that the chemical plants were operated
to give Straus an opportunity to bid
Tor United States Government con-
tracts.
Reported to Berlin
Won Bruck came from Dusseldorf,
Germany, and was arrested some time
ago in his Office at 80 Church Street.
In 1911 he was ordered to South Amer
lea, and spent several years there in
the employ Of the Manncsmann Tube
W " M. LAG N0HiC W lHlS country IN
1913. He was sent to study the people
and reported to Berlin regarding condi-
tons here. He cultivated the ac-
quaintance Of Morris H;llquit, Jcre-
man OLeary and l.. w. Alexander,
editor OF Issues and Events"
After the outbreak Of the Europcan
war, when copper was needed in Ger
many. Won Eruck tried to purchase 49,.
O0O water meters for concern in
buenos Ayres. Investigation of this
order revealed that the South American
hTm had nothing to do with the order,
and IT is believed that Won Bruck was
endeavoring 20 send them to Germany
Tor the copper that was in them.
Among his effects was found a study
OF New York just prior 70 Americas
entrance into the war He cxprcased
the opinion that a Newspaper should
be purchased BY the Germans IL they
we're 70 get German propaganda be-
Tore the people. He said that The
Tribune was 80 pro-Ally that the Ger
mans could not have any OF their
propaganda published in it. Of "Thc
World" he wrote that il was pro-Ally.
but would have been in favor Of the
German cause il Mr.. Pulitzer had
lived. Hearst, to Won Bruck, was an
enigma. He said that his papers were
thc only big publications in the city
in which the German view was re-
Heesea. HDWevnr, he added that Mr..
UHarst m anxious for social posi