Morning Oregonian., April 21, 1917, Page 2, Image 2

TITE ..MORNING OREGONIA5, SATTTRDAT, APBIL 21, 1917.
3000 GERMANS 111
AMERICA WATCHED
BEAUTY, ONCE SOCIETY LEADER OF DENVER, WHO DIED IN
POORHOTJSE.
'THE STORE THAT UNDERSELLS BECAUSE IT SELLS FOR CASH"
INFESTED BY SPIES
Store Opens
at 8:30 A. M.
Store Closes
at 5:30 P. M.
Ambassador Gerard Is Kept
Busy Weeding Out Ger
v man Secret Agents.
Government Ready to Arrest
Every Suspect in 24 Hours
if It Is Necessary.
Saturdays
at 9 A.M.
Saturdays
at 6 P. M.
f
The Most in Value The Best in Quality
-..-.1
CLEVER WOMEN EMPLOYED
KAISER'S HOPES FIZZLE
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American-Born Wires of German
Officials" Among 3Iost Active of
Those Used, to Pry Into
United States' Plans.
BT CARL W. ACKBRMAN.
fCopjrlrht, 191T. the Tribune Association.
Registered In accordance with the copy
right act, Canada, 1917. the Tribune Asao
clatlon.) NEW YORK, April 21. (Special.)
James W. Gerard, the American Am
bassador In Berlin, used to be kept
busy weeding out spies In the embassy.
Because of a scarcity of American
clerks and stenographers he had to em
ploy many Germans, even In the con
fidential fllerooms. But whenever the
Ambassador discovered a real spy, out
he went.
But one of the men the Ambassador
suspected waa the chief messenger and
announcer, a young German named
"Fritz." This fellow was liable to mili
tary duty, but he was never called. One
day while talking to Secrteary of State
Zimmerman, Mr. Gerard asked why
"Fritx" was always overlooked when
the army called in new men. All other
German male employes were called, al
though many of them were excused
because the Ambassador asked for
their release, but "Fritz" stayed. Zlm
mermann said that of course he did
not know the reasons, because he was
not connected with the general staff!
After Mr. Gerard returned to the
embassy from this call on the Secre
tary of State he remarked that It prob
ably would not hurt the United States
to have "Fritz" report, because If he
reported the truth the general staff
would soon learn that the United States
was in earnest In opposing German
submarine warfare and would so to
war if the Von Tirpitz policies were
accepted. "Fritz," however, proved an
active worker for the government and
he watched especially the American
correspondents who came to the em
bassy, reporting faithfully to the For
eign Office what he heard them say.
American Wives Aid.
But the German secret service In
Berlin- was extremely efficient in
watching Americans. And among the i
most active workers were American
, - born wives of German army officers or
Officials. The navy, army and Foreign
? office all had their women agents and
one of the most capable ones was a
Frau von Schroeder, wife of Rlttmeis
ter von Schroeder, who was In the
army intelligence bureau of the gen
eral staff.
h'- Frau von Schroeder worked mainly
rf -'through certain American correspond
''ents and business men. Her home was
- a meeting place for a group of antl-
"Wilson Americans who were spying on
.-.Ambassador Gerard and who reported
to her everything they heard about
Ibim.
At one time she was quite Intimate
with Zimmermann, but after a while
she turned on the Foreign Office and
did spying almost exclusively for the
Jfavy Department. When she deserted
"the Foreign Office Zimmermann be
came so angry that he told Ambassador
Gerard one day that if Frau von
Schroeder ever came to his office again
he would Jump out of the window.
- At the beginning of the war Frau
von Schroeder was cultivated by sev
eral of the most prominent American
t correspondents, because In return for
the information they gave her about
the American Embassy and the United
States she obtained favors for them.
At one time she was so powerful in
' government circles that notes to the
United States in reply to President
Wilson's submarine notes were drafted
in her library.
Spy System In Hotel.
But Frau von Schroeder's activities
were only one phase of the Berlin se
cret service.
The Hotel Adlon was known as the
gathering place for Americans. Most
Americans who came to Berlin stopped
there, so the intelligence departments
of the government had not only every
employe who understood English, but
army officers and women agents sta
tioned there to listen to all conversa
tions. Americans used to say that
within half an hour after they made
any important remark about Germany
and the United States It was known at
the orFeign Office or general staq. Of
the numerous incidents which occurred
here one is typical of how overzealous
some of the spies were, especially some
who did not understand English per-
xecuy.
One day S. B. Conger, of Grand Rap
Ids, Mich., chief of the Associated
Press, and Philip M. Powers, of Boston
. also of that organization, and I walked
- from a meeting of the War Press Bu
- reau to the Adlon. Conger and I
"stopped In the lobby to talk about the
censorship. Both of us were bavins
difficulty in getting our dispatches past
me foreign Office censorship and we
discussed means of protesting against
the stupidity of the officials. No other
subject was discussed, although at the
time Berlin was aroused over the pos
sibility of a break with the United
btates.
A few hours afterward I saw Joseph
. C Grew, of Boston, first secretary of
4he embassy. Ambasador Gerard was
' at the time In New York. Mr. Grew
said Count Montgelas, chief of the
'American division of the Foreign Office
had asked him whether the United
t States was about to break diplomatic
. relations, because "Mr. Conerer and Mr.
1 Ackerman had said that afternoon that
v they were packing their trunks to be
4, ready for the break."
Street Only Safe Place.
Some one of the numerous agents at
the Adlon had reported his version of
e our conversation. After this incident
it whenever Conger and I met to talk
about anything we selected the middle
of the street!
In Berlin I lived on the top floor of
an ap&rLment-nouse in w umersaorr.
" quiet suburb of Berlin. When I moved
- In the apartment underneath was occu
-: pied by a German family, which moved
j out very suddenly after the Sussex was
.torpedoed. A few days later I read on
J the name plate of the apartment the
V card of the new occupant- His name
was German, but the card was hla for
mer business card which he used In
Petrograd.
One evening I returned from the of'
flee and was dining on the balcony, such
as are built on all Berlin apartments.
- After I was there a few minutes talk'
ing to my wife, a 10-year-old boy, son
V; or me coupie living underneath our
x apartment, ran into his father's study
ind shouted: "Oh, daddy, that man's
home upstairs.
In a few seconds the whole family
was sitting on the balcony underneath.
I found out afterward that they knew
Knerlish as wen as I did.
One day Ambassador Gerard received
V
- 4 s,' "
f$ytfM
MRS. JCIIX IV.
through the mail a letter addressed in
a plain envelope containing a spy's re
port on the Ambassador himself, ad
dressed to the Ministry of War. The
report covered several typewritten
pages and narrated about everything
the Ambasador had done and said dur
ing the previous week. It was so ac
curate that the Ambassador thought
he might have dictated it himself. What
Mr. Gerard did with the letter finally
I do not know, but he said at the time
that he believed the report was sent
to him Intentionally, although there
were evidences that It might have been
placed In the wrong envelope by the
writer.
Work of Code experts Good.
The code experts in the Foreign Of
fice and military bureaus were consid
ered experts in any code In the world.
Although the United States used three
codes, it was known that at least two
were known to the German govern
ment, but the State Department in
sending dispatches usually mixed the
codes so that anyone knowing two of
them or even the third could not de
cipher the telegram. That was, how
ever, the intention of the State Depart
ment, but frequently dispatches were
sent to the embassy from Washington
and then made public verbatim as they
were sent.
Because this had happened several
times, the Ambassador feared the gov
ernment could read all his telegrams,
so he adopted the policy of sending all
important confidential communications
through the United States Govern
ment's private mail pouches, which
were sent to the United States weekly
by courier. President Wilson, Colo
nel House and Secretary Lansing were
thus In confidential communication
despite the vigilance of the German
government.
When the Berlin code experts suc
ceeded In deciphering dispatches these
were compared with other Information
from the United States and in this way
the government spy system had a com
plete check on all important reports.
AMBASSADOR ELKUS ILL
AMERICAS DIPLOMAT IJf TURKEY
HAS TYPHUS FEVER.
Attack la BHld, Saya Report to Wash
ington, and Every Attention Is
Being Given Patient.
THE HAGUE, April 19, via London.
April 20. United States Ambassador
Elkus is seriously ill at Constantino
ple with spotted typhoid, according to a
dispatch from Berlin. The Vosslsche
Zeitung says that a German specialist
is assisting the Embassy physician.
WASHINGTON, April 20. Ambassador
Elkus at Constantinople Is suffering
from a light attack of typhus and every
attention is being given him, according
to dispatches.
Minister Morris at Stockholm tele
graphed that the Swedish Minister at
Constantinople reported that Ambas
sador Elkus had "spotted typus."
ILITIA ORDER MODIFIED
HUSBANDS OK B1EAXS NOT TO BE
MUSTERED OCT.
War Department Flooded With Protests
From Men Who Resent Be
tas Discharged.
WASHINGTON, April 20. Discharges
from the National Guard will not be
granted enlisted men solely because
they are married, according to Instruc
tions sent out by the Militia Bureau.
Where a soldier has Independent means
which will prevent his family from
becoming a charge on the Government
he will not be mustered out.
. The War Department has been flood
ed since the original order was Issued
with Inquiries and protests from Na
tional Guardsmen, many of whom have
been discharged under the dependent
family rule and against their wishes
because they were married men.
Rnssla Changes Navy Commander.
PETROGRAD, via London, April 20.
Admiral Kolchak, commander of the
Black Sea fleet, has been appointed
commander-in-chief of all Russian
naval forces in the Baltic
Bnlglan Prince Leaves Berlin.
AMSTERivii, via London, April 20.
A Berlin dispatch says Crown Prince
Boris, of Bulgaria, has returned home
after a visit with the German Emperor.
Read the Oregonian classified ads.
SPRINGER.
BEAUTY 0IES PAUPER
Mrs. John W. Springer, Once
Society Leader, Succumbs.
ONE FRIEND STAYS TRUE
Woman, Who Is Cause of Two Mur
ders and Life Imprisonment for
Another, Attempted to Play
for Film Concerns.
DENVER, April 20. Mrs, John W.
Springer, divorced wife of the Denver
banker and capitalist, once a society
leader and called the "most beautiful
woman In Colorado," died last night In
a pauper's hospital on Blackwell Island,
New York City, alone save for one
friend, who had remained true to her,
according to advices received here. Be
cause of Mrs. Springer, two men are
dead and one is serving a life sentence
In the state penitentiary at Canyon
City.
lira Springer had been married two
years when, in 1911, Sylvester von Puhl
and George E. Copeland were killed by
Harold F. Henwood In a local hotel In
a discussion of Mrs. Springer. Follow
ing this Mr. Springer sued for divorce
and Mrs. Springer got $5000 and went
to New York.
Little was heard of Mrs. Springer un
til recently. Then she began posing
occasionally for motion picture con
cerns in the East. Her funds exhausted,
when she became 111 a short time ago
she was forced to go to the hospital.
DUKE ACCEPTS PORTFOLIO
Declination of Seat In Spanish Cab
inet Reconsidered.
MADRID, via Paris. April 20. The
Duke of Alba, Minister of the Interior
In the retiring Cabinet, whose differ
ences of opinion with Premier Roma
nones were one of the principal causes
of the resignation of Count Romanones,
refused at first to accept the portfolio
of Finance In the new Ministry of
Premier Prieto. Subsequently, however,
he changed his mind, having learned
that his declination. If persisted In.
would cause several other Liberal
statesmen to refuse to serve. '
The Duke said that. In agreement
with Premier Prieto, they would con
tinue the International policy set forth
In the King's message unless a change
should be necessary, in which case the
intervention of Parliament naturally
would be required.
CENSORSHIP DECIDED ON
(Continued From Flrt Pace.)
the President to restrict publication of
military matter, both in the press or by
individuals in speeches or otherwise,
Its foes declared that it was unconsti
tutional and the most drastic curb upon
freedom of speech and the press guar
an teed by the Constitution ever pro
posed during the Nation's entire history.
Before the final vote the original
committee draft, much more sweeping
and drastic, was greatly modified. The
committee proposed to prohibit not only
tne puoiication 01 military information
except und-er Presidential regulation.
but also its collection, recording, or
attempts to elicit it.
Reasonable Rnles Required.
Elimination of these additional re
strictions was agreed to by those In
charge of the bill and approved by the
senate.
Another change, upon an amendment
by Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska, pro
vided that the Presidential regulations
shall be reasonable.
A substitute of the whole clause, sub
mitted by Senator Cummins, of Iowa,
was rejected, 40 to 84. Senator Cum
mins, who Insisted that the clause re
tained was unconstitutional, proposed
that the resident oe authorized to pre
scribe regulations which would not
abridge freedom of speech or the press.
but would prohibit publication of actual
military operations, not Including con
dltlon of the armed forces and other
matters.
. Russians Contribute Freely.
PETROGRAJ, via London. April 20.-
Although subscription lists to "Liberty
Loan" only opened yesterday, the public
is contributing freely. In the first two
hours, 2,500,000 roubles were received.
Department of Justice Discovers
That Expectation That Reserv
ists Would Spring to Arms
Is Entirely Unfounded.
WASHINGTON, April 20. Approxi
mately 3000 German residents of the
United States are under close surveil
lance. Department of Justice officials
announced today, because of their ac
tivities In beh&u of the German gov
ernment before America's entry into
the war or because of their pro-German
sympathies.
The department's field force of In
vestigators, now grown to formidable
proportions. Is keeping so close a watch
upon the small a- of suspects that
It would be possible. It is authorita
tively stated, to arrest virtually every
man under suspicion within 2 hours.
i .e suspects are living In eery state
or the Union.
Most of the suspects had been under
surveillance prior to the entrance of
this country into the war, but hun
dreds of names have been added to
the list.
Sheriffs Also Enlisted.
In addition to the 600.000 civilian
employes on the Government's payroll
In all departments actively engaged In
reporting Information to the bureau, all
Sheriffs and their deputies throughout
the country, Attorney-General Gregory
said tonight, are reporting Information
which may aid In detecting and ap
prehending persons working In this
country against the interest of the
United fates.
Patriotic organizations and many
other civilian societies also have of
fered their aid. Letters from auxiliary
sources to the bureau are being re
ceived at the rate of approximately
1000 a day.
To dispel apparent confusion In the
public mind It was stated at the De
partment of Justice that the President
had delegated to that department the
full enforcement of the terms of his
proclamation regarding alien enemies.
Information Is Welcomed.
Patriotic citizens desiring to place
at the Gove mi -t's disposal Informa
tion which they believe may aid In
ferreting out the activities of liermcn
agents should communicate with the
Department of Justice. Such communi
cations will be treated as confidential
and will be welcomed.
Thus far. It was said, the strict sur
veillance maintained over persons
kr.own to be of pro-German sympathy
has revealed a tendency to observe the
law more benerally than the depart
ment had anticipated. The reputed be
lt of German officials that a gre.it
army of reservists here was ready to
spring to arms in case of conflict be
tween the United States and their na
tive land has been found to rest upon
no foundation whatever.
ACID BURNS STUDENT
Glenn Morgan, Pacific University,
Is Sort In Explosion.
PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, Forest Grove,
Or.. April 20. (Special.) Glenn Morgan
yesterday, while working with chemi
cals in the laboratory, was seriously
burned In both eyes and the right side
of his face with concentrated sulphurlo
acid. It resulted from the mixing of
sulphuric acid with another re-agent
which was in a wrongly labeled' bottle.
This Immediately exploded, throwing
the concentrated solution Into his face.
Morgan is president of the senior
class, member of the college male
quartet, assistant Instructor In the
chemistry department and ex-presi
dent of the Alpha zeta Literary So
ciety. ARMY Y. M. CLA. TO EXPAND
War Department Rears Plan to Meet
Needs of Force of 1,000,000.
WASHINGTON, April 20. Prepara
tions to expand the Youn Men's Chris
tian Association organization with the
Army on a scale in proportion with the
size of a war-time army were taken
up at the War Department today by
John - Mott, secretary of the asso
ciation's International committee.
The association expects to have at
least one representative for ever 1000
troops and to carry out Its organization
of brigade tents and -"on picture fa
cilities on the basis of an army of
1,000.000 men. "
BRITISH GAIN IN PALESTINE
Turkish Posftlons Are Captured on
8 1-2 - Mile Front.
LONDON, April 20. The general
officer commanding the British forces
In Egypt reports In an official state
ment to the War Office that on April
17 the British advanced north of the
Wadi Ghuz' in Southern Palestine and
captured the Turkish advanced posi
tions along a front of 64 miles.
The attack, the British statement
says, was assisted by the fire of war
ships and the position gained was con
solidated. SENTRY FIRES AT LAUNCH
San Francisco Craft Steers Too
Close to War Vessel
SAN FRANCISCO, April 20. A launch
which approached too close to a United
States monitor In San Francisco Bay
early today was fired upon by a sen
try, according to a report made by the
commander to the police.
Owners of small craft were again
warned not to approach too close to
war vessels under penalty of being
tired at.
WHEAT TRADERS WORRIED
Wlnnlpeg Exchange Considers Stop
ping Deals In Futures.
WINNIPEG. Man.. April 20. The
Winnipeg Grain Exchange Council to
day was reported to be seriously con
aldering discontinuance of future trad
Ing.
Uneasiness developed from reports
that the allied governments and the
United States were buying the entire
wheat supply.
1
A Special Showing and Sale
of Women's and Misses9
Stylish Spring Suits
Fetching Modes for Slender or
Stout Women Exceptional Values at
$23.85
Models that have been carefully selected by us and represent most
every new style and fabric for slender or stout women. Severely
tailored models and sport models, emphasizing: the straight, ton
neau or full flare silhouette, etc made of fine wool serenes, pop
lins, gabardine and black and white check materials a wonder
fully attractive showing at an equally attractive price. Pay our
Suit Section an early visit.
New Spring Models
R.&G.
Corsets
$1 to
$2.50
Pair
These celebrated Corsets are
guaranteed to wear to your
satisfaction. They are per
fect in workmanship, fit and
finish. Come see the new
Spring models. Especially at
tractive are numbers 418, 392
and SSS.
TAX BILL FIGHT Oil
Opposition Develops to Mc-
Adoo's First Suggestions.
PARTISAN WORDS ABSENT
Ways and Means Committee Will
First Dispose of Smaller Items
Before Coming to Income
and Excess Profits Taxes.
WASHINGTON, April 20. Opposition
to many of Secretary McAdoo's sug
gestions as to possible new sources of
revenue developed today when the ways
and means committee met for the first
time to consider raising money by tax
ation to meet war expenditures. No
final votes were taken on any pro
posals, but the preliminary discussion
showed that no little time will be re
quired to reconcile the widely divergent
views of various members.
No partisan differences arose, how
ever, and this strengthened Democratio
Leader Kltchin's belief that a bill will
be agreed upon within two weeks.
Every effort will be made. Mr. Kltchin
said tonight, to keep politics out of
the discussion, and if deemed advisa
ble to expedite action, plans to put
tariff duties on certain articles now
admitted free will be abandoned.
Greater possibility of partisan debate
lies in the tariff than any other phase
of the Question. It Is believed.
Vigorous protests are being made
both to the committee and Secretary
McAdo against the suggestions that the
excess profits tax be Increased. Its
opponents, most of whom say they rep
resent the small corporations, insist
that the proposed Increase would only
levy an Increased burden on them and
without touching many of. the larger
concerns, which, having floated vast
quantities of stock, do not now earn
the 8 per cent profit exempted under
the present law.
A flat war tax of 8 per cent or mora
on the net profits of all corporations
is being suggested by opponents of
the proposed excess profits tax in
crease. The questton of making both pro
posed Increased income and excess
profits taxes retroactive was discussed
at length. Feeling prevailed generally
In the committee that the income ex
emptlon should be lowered. It was
said, and It Is probable that the bee
retarv"s suggestions of a $1500 exemp
tlon for single persons and $2000 for
married ones will be adopted.
Although no definite plans has been
worked out. the general programme,
It Is understood. Is to dispose of the
nmsLller Items of taxation before agree
Ing definitely on the amounts to bo
raised by income and excess profit
taxes. This is considered desirable
because of the uncertainty as to re
turns from some of the smaller items.
Another meeting of the committee
probably will be held next week.
REGULAR RESERVE CALLED
Mobilization of Men Who Have Had
Three Years In Army Ordered.
SAN FRANCISCO. April 20. Orders
for the mobilization of the regular
Army reserve in the Coast Artillery,
Infantry. Cavalry and Field Artillery
branches of the Federal military serv
ice on or after May 1 were received
here today from the War Department.
An Attractively Underpriced Showing of
Women 's Neckwear
At
Just In by express, a splendid assortment of the new season's
styles, including dainty Imported Organdie Collars and Sets
Georgette Crepe Collars and
trimming. Also the new Sport
priced for this sale at
Women's and Misses'
Patent Pumps
Mary Jane and Two-Strap Styles, in All Sizes.
Trustworthy Qualities.
Sizes 5 to 8
at
Sizes llVi to 2
at
S1.50
S1.98
according to an announcement made at
headquarters of the Western Depart
ment of the Army here.
The men Include those who enlisted
for seven years and who were fur
loughed Into the regular reserve after
serving three years under the colors.
SHIP OUTPUT INCREASES
Lstlmate1 construction Exceeded b,-
Britain In March.
LONDON. April 20. The shipping
controller announced that the output
of mercantile steamers of 100 tons and
upwards, which In the six months
ended in December waa below the esti
mate, exceeded the estimate in March.
being at the rate of 1.000. 000 tons a
year. No ships of great tonnage are
being constructed.
The yards are turning out stand
ardized types of 6000, 3000 and 2000
tons ross.
Austrian War Minister to Retire.
AMSTERDAM, via London, April 20.
The Neue Frele Presse, of Vienna,
CEVEH DEADLY MNS.c
w its feii star, b
NEW YORK WORLD.
y -TrT " j.
I SEVEN VE&DUf SlS
I and what they did to ONE LITTLE GIRL 1
A McClure series of seven thrill
ing five-act photoplays, showing
beautiful Eve Leslie tempted by
Seven Deadly Sins; a new play
each week. Each film complete
in itself, but connected by the
sweetest love story ever filmed.
Beautiful Shirley Mason appears
throughout the series.
4 Days, Starting Next Sunday:
ANN MURDOCH in "ENVY"
'PEOPLES
ALDER AT 'WEST PARK
49c
Sets with embroidery and lace
Collars and Sets. All
49c
Sizes 8Vi to 11
at
Sizes 2'i to 6
at
S1.75
S2.48
says that General Bobrzynskl, Minister
of War, will retire from office. Dr.
Urban. Austrian Minister of Communi
cations, and Dr. Baernreither. Minister
without portfolio, members of the Ger
man party, whose impending resigna
tion was reported, will remain In office.
Premier's Return From Italy.
PARIS. April 20. Premier Alexandra
Ribot and the British Premier, Llord
George, returned today from Savoy,
where they conferred with the Italian
Premier, Paolo Boselll. and the Italian
Foreign Minister. Baron Sonnino. con
cerning co-operation between the en
tente allies.
General's Son Named Censor.
SAN FRANCISCO. April 20. Lieuten
ant Franklin C. Sibert, son and aide
of Brigadier-General Wiliam L. Sibert.
commander of the Pacific Coast Artil
censor of the Western Department of
lery District. was today appointed
the Army with headquarters here.
Dutch inventors have perfected a
combined mechanical and chemical
process for recovering all ihe uncon-
sumed fuel from furnace ashes.
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