Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-31
THRILLING TALE
Spun by Soviet Am
bassador" Martens
Tells Ho~ cou-,ers Of Soviet Russia
Ran Gauntlet Of Death and ir-
ats Tale Haif Ioic
Whee Pressed FOR Details He Con-
side-s Secret

Washington. jar. 3t-HOw the
coErlsrs q Soviet Russia. carrying
funds 70 finance It's propaganda II
America, -ac the gauntlet Of death
and imprisonment II the surrounding
states Of Europe was story begun
bur abandoned ha1f-told today by
Ludwig c. A E Martens, Soviet
agent II tas United States, before
tbs Senate foreign relations sub
committee investigating Russian
propaganda
Martens fatty declined u answs--
further QUESTIONS put To him by thu
commIrree OF the subject Of the
coErlers and left il 10 consider
whether or not ms plea Of the dip
lornarlc immunity from further ez-
tension should be allowed while h2
went on 20 recount MS personal ac
E1vI1y II anosavOrlng 70 get t.ls gov
erumen- recognized ny the state de-
parrmen- and IL placing provisiora.
contracts for 81, 800 gtB wsr-h Of
food, clothing and machinery With
American business houses T-Is lat
ter effort ne said mad resulted r
placing Two or three letters before
President Wilson urging recognition
through tie state department mas re-
manned firm II its refusal 10 recog-
nIze him Il any way.
Out u ~ Of the mysterious mes
ssngers VINO started during The ias-
year from Moscow With funds and
letters u hin, Martens said seven,
rad gotten through L z barriers Of
armies anG International frontiers.
SeEe-a- mad been shot II Finland
three mat I know abou-" Martens
said casually Of Ten VINO tried 10
get through Inc German line seven
were caught and jailed. The frs
man ~ reach hin however, carried
$40 9e6 and MS credentials as Soviet
am bassado-" 10 the United States
The coL-lers carried money il The
form cf Finnish marks. or ScanGl-
navlar currency Martens said and
had El-lous varieties OF passports
Here he began to evade. though
Senator Moses Of New Hampshire
chairman OF the committee, and
Senator Brantlege. CONNECTICUT were
p-odtIng MIN OF win questions as
70 messengers routes and methods OF
travel and DISCUSSES.
= decline 70 answer ne stated final
iy when asked to nam. one OF the
cou-iers, and repeated MS words quietly
when the topic was pushed further He.
ss, nae sent esuriers, he aae.es. but Ok
their fortunes had not been advised.
altogether s15G,og haG come 70 him
through the underground route anc also
instruction. SC ne said, not 70 spend auV
Of the money or politics o. the SUP
po-t Of internal factions or parties II
me United States"
: LIST uf contracts for goods, entered
INFO by Martens. was submitted 70 the
committee with the explanation that the
first named had agreed 10 furnish the
goods only on condition that they were
gwen Licenses by the state department
ID export the products 70 Soviet Russia.
The largest con-rac. cited was for "a
5HtG go worth o. printing presses TO be
furnished by the Lehigh Machine Co. Of
Lehightnn, Pa,
Only $4,000 had beer paid on the con-
tracts, Martens said and none Of the
goods had been shipped You depend
&c on the reiati rs opened with Ameri-
can business concerns ID help you ger
recognition" p Chairman Moses asked.
Yes" Martens replied. adding that
ne knew Of many letters made py Amer
leans friendly TO me Soviet government
70 American officials and. speaking par
ricularly, "a, least two" VINO went >
President Wilson from individuals VINO
he animated would likely SECURE hear
ing
Martens examination viii be resumed
by the committee a. It's mex session.
which viii ne called by Chairman Mo ses
after Wade r. Ellis. a-tn-ney employed
to conduct the Investigation has -e-
covered from his illness,