South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-22
COVE EMINENT
LAYS BARE
BOCHE PLOTS
Germans Attempted to In
trigue Among Many Nation
aIitieS in u. S., Including
Irish and Negroes.

WASHINGTON. May - Dis
closure Tuesday that the govern
ment has gathered evidence in this
country Of conspiracies between
Irish Sim Rein leaders and German
agents 10 precipitate a rebellion in
Ireland. was followed by announce
ment that government agents have
uncovered similar German intrigue
with other nationalistic groups in
the United States.
German money, il was said, has
been used 10 finance agitation among
Negroes and among Firms, Lithua-
mans and other of the so-called
oppressed natiOnalities' which for
years have had national grievances
against Russia or other anti-German
allies. In most cases this propa gan
da has been carried on by Americans
affiliated with these groups. paid
from some mysterious source be
lieved TO be the German government.
Except among the radical Irish agi-
tators, however. the propaganda did
not appear to make much Roadway.
Reveal secrets.
For many months. il is now re-
yealed. United States government
agents have been inside the cOunsels
of the Irish in this country who plot
ted armed insurrection of Irish citi-
zens against British rule, and have
discovered conclusive evidence that
German money and promises Of aid
stimulated the cOnspiracies as a
means of diverting the British gov
eminent from its war work in
France. Direct action 20 stop the
intrigue was thought not advisable,
inasmGch as the government did not
wish 10 NEEDLE in domestic prob
lens of the British empire, but the
information gathered was turned
ever in some cases to the British
representatives, and il is understood
the recent arrest Of a number OF
Irish Sim Fein leaders was prompt
ed partly by evidence Of German
Irish plots discovered in this coun-
try
Full details Of the evidence were
not made public, it was explained.
because of the number of persons
still under surveillance.
Reasons for Irish Arrests.
Some announcement of the rea-
sons for the arrest Of the Irish agi
tators is expected soon. however.
either in LondO, or Washington. Of
ficials today declined 10 indicate
whether any statement might be ex-
pected from the state department
concerning Irish developments.
The story OF how the intrigue in
4
said. if published fully, would tell
Of many communications brought
secretly into the United States in
violation OF regulations Many of
these were written with invisible ink
and in code, and when deciphered.
furnished clues leading 10 detection
Of many ramifcatiOns of the plot.
The men responsible for the agita-
ton were supplied with funds from
deposits in banks where German
representatives kept their accounts
or from other mysterious sources.
Referred to German Promises.
The Irish radicals in the CORE
spondence referred frequently to the
promise of German aid in an upris-
ing. which was 10 be called for this
month or next when the Germans
had expected to reach the channel
ports in their big drive. The Ger
mans then were to send arms and
ammunition. and possibly troops to
the Irish coast to participate in the
rebellion.
Many of the Irish plans were
melodramatic in the extreme, it is
stated, and involved all the ele-
ments Of dramatic fiction. They
were so radical that government
agents felt safe for a long while in
permitting the scheming to continue
in the hope Of detecting others in
volved. The series of sudden arrests
Of Irish by the British government
may have been made when it finally
became evident that the rebellion
oot,ra 11x- trac a bout ~ he started