New-York tribune., 1918-08-05

Island. Under this arrangement DR..
Albert, Mr.. Becker said. proposed to
sell DR.. Rumely 1000 words a day OF
authoritative" news matter from Ber-
lin and points adjacent.
For some reason or other terms
could not be agreed upon. DR.. Rumely's
explanation, as given to the Deputy
State Attorney General, was that AL
MALI to send a representative Of its
own to get the news in shape. AS
patriotic American, DR.. Rumely's sus-
picions were aroused by this, he says.
He feared that the news might be doc
tored." However that may be, the fact
remains, said Mr.. Becker. that the
plan. after forming the subject OF nu-
merous conferences, was abandoned.
Odell Was Suspicious
Reverting to the testimony of Odell,
which was taken in secret some days
ago and has not previously been made
the picture "The Mails" former for
eign correspondent drew of his en-
ployer fully bore out the governments
contention as regards Rumely.
Speaking Of the period before he
(OdelN was sent abroad on the same
ship that bore Won Bcrnstorff back to
the Fatherlard, Odell said:
"I felt from the start that DR..
Rumely was very friendly to Ger
many"
The thought of actual completely on
said did not enter his mind. but he
could not but remark the laudatory at
titude toward all things and institu-
tions German which constantly ami
mated Rumely's conversation. Ger
man education, German methods, Ger
man systems-these were the things,
Odell said. which at all times com
manded his employers attention. In
discussing the cooperative movement
thing in which Rumely was partic-
ularly intcres ted-Odell recalled that
though this distributive method is
practised in many countries, it was
always to it's advantage as exempli
fed in Germany that Rume!y made
reference.
When the Deutchland arrived in this
country, Odell told Mr.. Becker, "The
Evening Mails" proprietor sent him a
telegram instructing him to proceed at
once to Baltimore and get in touch
with the head of the Hamburg Ameri
can Line there. This gentleman, he
was informed, would supply him with
special letters Of introduction to the
officers of the German underseas craft
which was creating a sensation just
then. Odell said, however, sthat he did
not ask for these, since the Hamburg
American office was filled with repre-
sentatlves from other papers by the
time he reached there.
Followed Papers Policy
Asked If he had been given any spe-
cial instructions as to coloring news
before he was sent as the MALLS"
representative abroad, Odell replied
that he had not been, but that he fol-
lowed the editorials run by Rumely
and knew which side his bread was
buttered on
he had, he admitted, while he was
at Washington, heard constant rumors
to the effect that the paper he was
working for was owned by German in
terests; but these he had discounted,
and had even gone so far as speci-
tically to deny.
Thereupon. Odell testified. he took
the midnight train to New York-this
tion directly up to DR.. Rumely. Rumely
cmphatically denied any connection
with the kaiser's hcnchmen. and stated
with considerable heat that he was
squarely and unqualihdedly pro-Amer-
lean.
Did the editorial policy of the paper
confirm this statement" Odell was
asked.
~ don't think so,' was his rejoiner.
AS to such personal relations as he
had had with DR.. Rumely. the witness
testified at length. Frequently. he said,
he would be summoned from Washing
ton for special conference, only to
find that DR.. Rumely really had moth
ing definite to say and no real instruc-
tions to give. Always. though, Odell
declared. Rumely asked anxiously if
the Administration seemed friendly in
its attitude toward Germany
After his return from abroad last
September. Odell emphasized, he found
Rumely changed man" Instead of
summoning him for conferences then.
he seemed intent upon avoiding him.
1t was impossible, the witness said, to
hold a frank conversation with him.
Such queries as he did put to his re-
turned correspondent were "insidious
and subtitle
"He seemed to be under great press
ure," Odell summed up. "He SCENE d
worried, furtive, undecided, like a man
under cloud"