The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-08
AMMUNITION SENT
TO.VILLA BY GERMAN
Military Bureau Barcs En-
penditure of $4,000 to
Supply Mexican.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7--Expenditure OF
approximately $4,000 in the summer
and early fall of 1915 for the purchase
OF ammunition consigned to the brothers
of Francesca villa by a German agent
now informed was disclosed by. Capt.
George b. Lester of the Military Intel
ligence section Of the General stan tes-
tifying to-day before the suh-commit-
tee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
investigating German propaganda.
Payments were made by Felix SOM
merfeld. "A German Mexican propagan-
dist, from an account in the Mississippi
Valley Trust Company Of St Louis, ar
! ransed through the Guaranty Trust
Company of New York to the Western
| Cartridge Company OF Alton, Ill. The
St. Louis bank was authorized by Som
merfeid to honor sight drafts on his
account by the munitions company and
each draft was accompanied by invoices
showing that shipment of munitions had
been made either 10 lAiis Galioxo for
H. villa at FL Paso. or to II. Villa him
self. III Villa" is Hippolito Villa,
brother of the bandit leader.
Deposits Bafne Police.
OFFICERS OF the military intelligence
section admitted that they had been un-
able to learn the source of the deposits
to Sommerfelds account. which were
transferred from time 10 time by tele-
graph from the Guaranty Trust Com
pany to the Mississippi! Valley Trust
Company Of St Louis.
Just prior to the testimony concerning
Sommerfeids account capt. Lester mad
shown that on the same day as the
Sommerfeld account was opened Chand-
Ter & Co. had opened an accoun. with
the same bank for Heinrich F Albert,
the German Governments financial agent
and propaganda paymaster. and Amhas-
sador Won Bernstorf Jointly. Between
these dates. April and November g..
1915. both accounts were closed. the Al
bert-Von Bernstorff account in four
large Withdrawals and the Sommerfeld
account in payments to the Western
Cartridge Company
After pointing out this coincidence
Major e L. Humes, following Capt. Les
military Intelligence section shows that
between April and August. 1915. Som
ne-fed acted in an advisory capacity
for Franz Won Rinteien. the German
agent implicated in the attempted dyna-
hitting of the Welland Canal and was
also closely associated with FREDERICK
Sta'forth now in an American intern
ment camp, who was especially inter-
ested in MeAiran propaganda.
More Investigations On.
Major Humes stated in answer to a
question by senator sterling S. ID that
tine Government had not concluded it's
irvestiga tons into the source Of the
money transferred from the Guaranty
Trust Company 70 the Mississippi Valley
Trust Company for Summerfeld and eN-
pected to furnish the committee later
with this information.
The transfers were in amounts varying
from $4,000 TO 5000 frequently In the
smaller amounts, and CORES irondeuce
introduced Indicated that SOmmerfeld =
deposits with the New York bank were
in small amounts and principally for the
purpose OF making the transfers.
Sommerfeld has been well known in
Latin American circles here and in New
York since the Mexican revolution of
1910. He is German born citizen. -
mining enginee: and for wears held the
| concession on the Importation OF dyna-
mite into Mexico After the death OF
Madero he became an active villa sup
porter. He was interned last year with
other enemy aliens at Fort Ogletnorpe,
Ga. where he now is.