New-York tribune., 1918-07-26
State Attorney General
Gets Proof of Huge
Propaganda Fund
Editor Revealed as
"Cousin of Wilhelm"
Evidence Obtained in In
vestigation of Purchase
of Evening Mail'

Attorney General Merton E. Lewis
obtained documentary evidence yeste.,-
day that George Sylvester Viereck, U.s.
slduous distributor of German propa-
ganda pamphlets, received at least
100000 from the German government
in the first year Of the war, and from
Vlereck was obtained the information
that he considers himself to be the un-
acknowledged grandson of Wilhelm
ard first cousin of the present ruler
of Germany.
Further investigation of the affairs
OF the editor of "Viereck's American
Weekly" formerly "The FatherlandD
will be made, and if the evidence war
rants it his case will be presented to
the grand jury. Officials having the
case in charge expect to discover that
Viereck received more than 100000
from the German government.
1t is thought the 100000 represents
the money paid to Viereck for estab-
fishing the 'Fatherland' and distribut-
ing German pamphlets and books and
that another fund was used for his
various other activities. While he re-
ceived this large amount from the
German government and declared HIM
self to be loyal to the United States,
ne invested only $500 in Liberty Bonds
of the three issues.
Approved by Bernstorff
The money was paid to Viereck. it
is said, with the approval of Count
von Bernsto1f, by his financial agents,
DR.. Heinrich Albert and DR.. Karl
Fuehr. Before the recall of the Aus
trlan Ambassador, Count Dumba. Vie
reck received $3.50 a week from the
Austrian Embassy to be used for Aus
tro-Hungarian propaganda. So far as
has been ascertained, these payments
ceased when Dumba sailed
Most of the money paid by Won
Bernstoff was given to Viereck in this
lean Line by Dr.. Albert and it was
in cash. About 81 900 was paid weekly.
Detailed information regarding Vie
reck's operations came into possession
of the State Attorney General after
the publisher had been questioned for
hours in connection with the purchase
of The Evening Mail" by DR.. Edward
A. Rumely for the German government
His check stubs show that between
October 10, 1914, and January 4, 1915,
at the direction of Won Bernstorff and
Dumba, he circularized the country
with pamphlets designed to sway public
opinion in favor Of Germany. Although
most of the pamphlets were sent from
New York, it is known German agents
in all parts of the United States aided
in the distribution.
S24,275 for Pamphlets
He sent out 10000 copies of
pamphlet entitled "The Truth About
Germany" which cost $2,31b to print;
100000 copies of "The German White
Book" which cost $2,274; 100000
copies of "Germany's Just Cause"
which cost $2,425; 100000 copies of
986; $4,000 copies of "The Case of
Belgium which cost $500, and so, 900
copies of Current Misconceptions
About the War" which cost S1,925,
making total of $24.275 spent by Vie
reck in three months on this one form
Of propaganda.
His books show that during this pc
riod he received payments from the
propaganda "bagman' as follows:
October 10, 1914, $4,000; October 27,
$75; November II, s2,250; November
cembcr 3, $500; December IA, $500, and
January 4, 1915, final payment of
$4,000.
Viereck also directed the distribution
of a long list of pro-German books,
acting under orders from the German
Foreign Office. Among them were
"What Germany Wants." by Edmund
von Mach; Central Europe" by Fred
erick Naumann, member of the
Reichstag; "The Secrets of German
Progress" by Frank Koester; "The Neu-
trality of Belgium by DR.. Karl A.
Fuchr; "Zeppelins Ueber England by
an anonymous writer who signed him
self "von -" (the introduction to
this book was written by Bernard Rid
der), and "The Lusitania Case" by c.
l.. Drostc.
Another of the books was "The YAM
low. This book was brought to this
country on the underseas boat Deutsch
land, and has foreword by George
Chatterton Hill. in which he discusses
the question of Ireland.
Sought to Arous, Irish
Hill wrote: "Ireland waits calmly
and confidently for her day Of liberia
tion, and the British butcher who has
tried for three centuries to extermi
nate her is forced to hold out his CORY
hands in a vain attempt to coax the
victim he has tried to strangle as he
sees the green flag of Erin to-day un
Continued on last page