The sun., 1918-07-19
FOES STEEL SECRET
SEIZED WITH PLANT
Becker Company, Taken Over,
Yields Formula for "High
Speed" Metal.
GERMAN-OWNED CONCERN
Attempt Made to Camouflage
Teut0n Interests Barred by
U. 8. Investigators.


A secret German process for the MAX
Ing Of high speed" steel, or the kind
of steel which the Germans use In the
manufacture of their high powered
motors and alrplanes. was made avail
able to this Government yesterday
through the seizure by A. Mitchell Pal
mer. Allen Property Custodian. Of the
plant and records Of the Becker Steel
Company OF America.
The concern has operated as q West
Virginia corporation with q plant at
Charleston. in that State. and Offices at
90 West street In this city. Adolph ].
Becker. a naturalized American. Is Its
vice-president, and with its president,
Wilhelm Peters, German subject. has
had the active management Of Its busi-
ness.
The property was taken over by Mr..
Palmer after "A report by Francis =.
Caravan. director Of the bureau OF inves-
tlgation Of the Alien Property Bureau.
Mr. Caravans investigation disclosed that
practically the whole stock Of the com
pany was German owned. The concern
ton to controlling the patent rights in
this country Of the high speed" steel
process Is the owner of the plant OF
the Baldwin Steel Company Of Charles
ton. w. Va, purchased in 1914.
The concern u revealed as one or
the many German owned corporations
through which It was planned to supply
Germany with munitions and other ma
terials when the war started In Europe,
Adoiph ]. Becker came to the United
States in 1899 and was naturalized In
1907. In 1911 he opened a New York
branch of the Stahlwerk- Becker Act!en
Gesellschaft OF Which. Germany. OF
which his brother, Reinhold Becker, Ia
managing director. A little later his
branch was organized as the Becker
Steel Company Of America with cap
ital Of 10000, which was increased to
$3.50, 600 Just before the war began
Planned to Help Germany.
In 1914, just after Germany's declara-
ton Of war, the Becker company was
reorsanized and It's capital Increased to
$3.50, 600. At the same time 1t pur-
chased the Baldwin plant and started
IN to make steel on large scale. After
Cirelt Britain's control OF the seas maze
1t impossible>eo send war materials into
Germany the company did general
business until this country entered the
war, since when 1t has kept its plant
gong by work Tor this Government.
When It became necessary for all
American corporations to register their
German owned stock Adofph Becker
filed a report setting forth that his COM
pany was entirely American owned
This statement was accepted until
few weeks ago, when Mr.. Garvan began
to investigate. Now Wilhelm Peters.
the companys president. has come Tor
ward with a statement that OF 5,2s7
shares Of stock held by him 5000 are
1ot his property but belong TO indiridu-
Ills in Germany.
Becker also admits that stock valued
ut S54476 listed in his name is being
held for his brother. Rsinhold. IN Ger
many, but claims that $500 shares OF
stock which are believed also to be the
property of the brother became his own
through a failure by Reinhold Becker
20 live up to a contract engagement.
He contends that In June, 1915. Rein
hald was to deliver certain machinery
to the Charleston plant and couldn't do
so on account Of war conditions. Where
upon the company, which held his 2,boo
shares Of stock, cancelled them as an
offset to his delinquency. To this trans
word camoufiage, and states that when
he asked Adolph Becker II he had any
memoranda or vouchers TO prove his
case Mr.. Becker admitted that he had
none.
His explanation was specious. but
failed to go over. He related that he
was last in Germany in 1916, and that
he was stopped at the border and all
his papers were taken from him. A touch
of vividness was lent to his narrative by
his account of how the jealous exam
lining officers after stripping him and
rifling his clothes sponsed his epidermis
with a chemical solution-secret OF
course--to make certain that no cryptic
messages were done In disappearing ink
upon the surface OF his person.
Shipped Goods on Deutsc HAND.
Becker related another incident show
ing the clos, relations between himself
and his German brother but before this
country entered the war. In 1916 his
brother sent him 81 30 200 With S90,956
of II he bought tungsten and sent 1t to
the fatherland by the commercial sub
marine Deutschland. With the rest OF
the money he laid In $4,000 pounds OF
ferrodenadium for later shipment. hut
the Deutschland never roappeared at an
American port and he resold his pur-
chase here and took profit of $4,000.
A new all American board Of direc-
tors will be appointed to conduct the
Becker company by Mr. Palmer, and It's
plant, property and secrets will all be-
come part OF the machine that Is max
ing the world safe for democracy.
Mr.. Palmer announced last night that
he had appointed the following as an
American board OF directors to manage
the Becker company until the war is
over
William VI. English. Paul F. Brady
George Dix, z. NJ. Sawtelle. w. A. Nc
Corkle, Royal II. Weller and William II.
Hilton. MIR. English Is vice president
OF the Empire Trust Company of this
city. Mr.. Brady Is an official OF the
Westinghouse company and Mr.. Dix an
officer of the Midvaie Steel and Ord
nance Company OF Philadelphia.