Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-25
MAY Report Ont Treaty to Senate This Week
Han Plot to
Invade U.s.. From
Mexico in 1918

MEAW iii IyIO
New York, Aug. 2s.-Revelatiun Of
extensive German plots In Mexico
during the war which included
proposed invasion Of the United
States by a German Mexican army
OF 45,DBD men, at the same time thai
the Germans launched their last drive
on the western front In July, 1915.
was made here tonight by the Ma
tional Association for the Protection
OF American Rights in Mexico.
Ths association gave ont a state
ment by Or. P. 2. Altentnrf. former
" Of the United States military in
reIigence department, reciting his ex-
perience a5 an American secret serr-
ice agent in that country.
DR.. Altendnrf, the son of a Polish
banker in Cracuw, Austrian Poland.
abandoned a medical course IN the
University Of Vienna at the outbreak
OF the war and fed to Mexico. where
ne was offered position as Ger
man spy 10 operate against the Unit
ed States by Kurt Jahnke, head Of
the German secret service in Mexico
With pretended reluctance. but
with secret joy, accepted ne
said. and at once found myself IN
a position 10 render valuable service
10 the allies in general and 10 the
United States IN particular"
He opened communication with the
border AZ volunteer worker to the
military intelligence department, ne
claims. and was later sworn IN as I
special agent OF the military tuteih-
genes department.
The association states that il has
investigated his claims and that Brig.
Gen Marlborough Churchill, the
head of the military intelligence de-
paremeuf, spoke in terms of the
highest praise of the zeal and trust
wurthIness Of DR.. Altendorf and the
great value of the services he rem
dered."
In addition TO explaining his activi-
ties In Mexico. DR. Altendorf warns
the people Of the United States
clai conquest Of Mexico
Within six months after the Unit
ed States raufies the treaty of peace.
he says. Germany win have COM
plete economic control Of Mexico
Within very few years. If they are
permitted To carry out the plans they
have formulated and are now exc
cutting rs rapidly as they can, the
Germans viii have absolute economic
political and military control of LAT
in America with headquarters IN
Mexico"
Referring To the proposed invasion
Of the United States, DR.. Altendorf
sets II forth that IN his dual capacfRv
as a captain in the German army
and colonel IN the Mexican arrr1v.
ne helped train SOD German reserv-
lists In Sonora who were TO form
the nucleus Of the proposed German
Mexican army, and that IN his true
character as an American secret serv-
ice agent he prevented the raid from
being carried ont.
This ambitious scheme" he says
was financed by Won EkhRrst. fGer-
man ambRssador 10 Mexirpl, and was
undertaken with the cooperation of
Carrznza."
DR.. Altendurf anurueratinr his sery-
ices IN Mexico. says in part:
! uelivered iutp the hands of the
United States military authorities.
the German agent. Lathar witcke.
afiRs Pablo Wahirski. the most i'm
portanf individual capture OF the WEI
SO tar as America was concernea
Wablrski bpasted To me that he had
blown up several munitions plants
and stores OF explosives. Including
the Rlack Tom explosion in New
York; blew up some ships and caused
disastrous fires In the forests of the
Pacific northwest
Wahirsii was ON his way tn the
United States by way Of NoraIes
Artz., ON another mission of nurder
ind obstruction when captured with
me- On his person was found a COPY
az the German Imperial code. anu
this Is understood To be the FIRST time
lnaf code came into the pussess,or
on the American government. Wa
pirskl was court martialled and from
Ine TACT that his case Lis before the
fresldenf for review is believed to
nave oeen sentenced to death, the
onig Gefnzn SPY co receive such a
s1nLence IN the UuitMd States.
also nerrayed 30 other Gerna-
asents and thus enahied the rusltta-y
inreiiigEnce department TO keen e.
Iss1IiVe watch ON them. not To men
aon some renegade Americans who
were giving aid and comfort To the
enemy"
Other acts for which DR.. Altsndurf
claims credit incinde; DISCOVERY of
two German wireless stations in
Mexico. capable OF receiving mes
sages from that country: reuurtinr
the plan for the German submarine
raid along the American coast in
April 1918. one month before II nc
ruaI1y took place: reporting agents
sent by Germans in Mexico to poisun
caffle in the United States. and +,e
revelation of a Plot by four Germans
to blow up the hydro-eIecrric miami
at Niagara Falls.
Calling attention tn German curn-
plHns in Mexico, DIR. Alfen-
durf reports that the FIRST artemuf
to carry out an ambitious German
scheme for the economic domino
tiun of Mexico was q plan oriEinaf-
ed by the German consul. Rafie-
AT Gnaymas. with the ac-
tive aid OF Gov. Gales. TO build a
cement plant with q cauacity az
ao.0D0 bags q month NJ HcrmnsiIla,