The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective LeagueHough, Emerson
History
The Web : $b The Authorized History of the American Protective League
Hough, Emerson
American Protective League; Propaganda, German; World War, 1914-1918 -- Secret service -- United States
Records which had been taken from the office of Wolf von Igel showed
that scarcely a ship sailed for a neutral country which did not carry
a German agent. There were at least two American newspaper men who
had been bought outright by Germany. Blackmail was not above the
consideration of some of these fellow-conspirators. Amounts of $1,000
to $5,000 had been paid to subsidize one paper which was dropped by the
embassy. The owner then threatened the embassy that if he did not get
any more money he might allow the paper to go into bankruptcy, and the
ensuing publicity would show the subsidy. Dr. Albert was authorized to
settle with this man to keep him quiet—he paid something over $3,000 in
this instance. Continually there rose a loud wail from Dr. Albert and
von Bernstorff, “Stung!”
There were some recriminations between journals in America as to
the nature of the “news” sent in by American foreign correspondents
located in Germany. It was sometimes offered in explanation of the
pro-German attitude of certain of these correspondents that it was
natural that a man resident in Germany should hear one side only of
the case. Others, more especially after the Senate revelations, were
disposed to think there might be other valuable considerations moving
correspondents thereto. Indeed, names and dates and prices of perfectly
good correspondents are now on record with the Overman Committee.
The Bielaski testimony was strengthened by that of Major Humes and
Captain Lester of Military Intelligence. Incidentally, the attempts
of Germany to embroil us with Mexico were shown. Very interesting
testimony was brought out from Carl Heinen, an interned German,
formerly a member of the Embassy staff, and a former consul general at
Mexico City. Major Humes of M. I. D. put in the record the relations
of Felix A. Somerfeld, an alien enemy who was an alleged Villa agent
in New York, showing that in eight months Villa had received nearly
$400,000 worth of rifle cartridges from Somerfeld, who was closely
associated with the German agents, Carl Rintelen and Friedrick
Stallforth, a prominent German banker in Mexico. The drafts on certain
trust companies were produced as part of the evidence.
Heinen’s deposition was subscribed to by F. A. Borgermeister, Dr.
Albert’s confidential secretary, before he was interned at Fort
Oglethorpe. This disclosed the disposition of $33,770,000 that passed
through German hands. This money was obtained in loans from New York
banks, or through the American agents of banks in Germany.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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