New-York tribune., 1920-09-12


the plots and projects at
tempted in the United States
by Nine. Marie de Victori-
ca, alias the Baroness Won Kretsch-
man, a German spy who died in
New York q few weeks ago. 1t is
believed that she was the only won-
an sent here by the Germans to
work under the direct orders Of the
Berlin government.
Before she came to this country
Nine. Victorica lived in South Amer
lea. She wrote for German news
papers from the Latin-American re-
publics she visited. For a time, too,
she lived in Russia and acted as q
correspondent for German news
papers while she was there. She
learned to speak Spanish, English
and French as fluently as she spoke
Germans her native language.
When she came to this country
she came at the request Of the Ger
man Foreign Office. Her instruc-
tions were received from Baron Won
Bossche Haddinghausen, one Of the
secretaries of the Foreign Office. She
also acted, while here, on the orders
she received from the Office Of the
German Naval Intelligence. After
being captured by the authorities
and taken to Ellis Island Mime. Vic
torica made o confession, or rather
9 series Of confessions, and the facts
set forth here have been taken main.
Iy from her own statements.
Not a Beautiful Vamp
In order TO fit in with the popu-
lar notion Of what woman master
spy ought to look like Nine. Vic
torica should be described as young
and beautiful. That, however, would
not be exactly within the facts. She
was past forty, blonde and Teutonic;
and yhAe $here swere indications
that she may have possessed no
scant store of beauty at one time,
& Victorica, when she came here, had
) no strong feminine attractions in
the vampire sense. She was simply
an intelligent woman of unusual
worldly wisdom, who knew how to
dress extensively and to make the
most Of a gift for conversation.
Shortly before setting out for the
United States, in January, 1917,
Victorica was married to an Argen-
tinian. II was her third marriage,
and the purpose was purely one of
expediency, to enable her to travel
on an Argentine passport. On her
passport one might have noticed
mysterious signature by one Sam
berger. This was the name Of the
head Of the German secret service,
and was placed on the passport so
that any German agent could use
it as a means Of identification in
meetings with other agents.
Lived at Best Hotels
In New. York she lived at various
notes.-the Knickerbocker, Waldorf
Astoria, Netherlands, Spencer Arms
and elsewhere-and used a number
Of aliases, among them Marie de
Vussiere and Mary-or Marie
Clark. Her spy number was az. A.
80" by whic h number she was
known not only in Berlin, but to
other German agents in this country.
Victorica's activities were often
delightfully."- similar to the kind Of
spy work that one usually reads OF
In story books. For example, she
wrote most of her messages not only
in complicated secret codes, but with
invisible ink. Before leaving Berlin
she memorized one code in particu-
Lar, which was never to be written
except with this invisible fiuid. And
as an additional precaution both the
Ink and the chemicals for develop
Ing the invisible writing were to be
changed from time TO time.
The secret ink which she used at
first was given TO her at the Chemi-
cal 1netitute, in Germany, and was
esxried In two silk scarfs or mug-
fisrs. These had been soaked in the
ink, and when o little ink was de-
sired for<use all she had 20 do was
TO saturate q small section Of the
scarf In cold water and then wiring
1t cot. Writing done with this ink
vss absolutely invisible, but could
be developed by means OF q solution
obtained by dissolving in vinegar
tablets containing iodine and other
chemicals. She obtained these tab
lets from Burroughs, Welcome & Co.,
Of London.
Changed the Ink
Later she used q different ink,