Page:The web (1919).djvu/135

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  • cuse him a moment as he wanted to speak to that man. He

conversed in German with the man for several moments, and on his return said: "He is a Russian anarchist, and he told me that a revolution is brewing in Russia and that the Germans will not have to fight the Russians much longer." He always expressed great pleasure at any news which was favorable to Germany. He did not think the United States had any business entering the war. He has relatives in Germany now.


When asked the direct question if he thought it advisable for S—— to be in the Intelligence Division of the Army, operative said:


I would not want to be in a company which he commands, and I believe it highly dangerous for him to be in the Intelligence Department. I believe if he was captured by the Germans, he would have nothing to fear.


The report of this operative further says:


S—— had a twin brother engaged in the tea importing business in New York. In July, 1917, the twin brother referred to said that he would not fight the Kaiser, that he was a German. He was even more rabid than the subject of this report. It was rumored here for some time that S—— was a German spy but there was never anything definite to verify the rumor, though he was very active in gathering all sorts of information regarding the material resources of the United States. He cultivated the acquaintance of the amateur wireless operators here, and was a fairly expert telegraph operator himself. Mr. R—— stated: "If S—— is in the Intelligence Department in France, it is an extremely dangerous thing and might cause a terrible disaster."

After S—— went to Washington last fall, and after he had received his commission in the United States Army, he wrote a letter severely criticising the United States War Department for inefficiency. His strictures were of such a nature that B—— said to R—— that he was very sorry that he had read it. S—— and B—— burned the letter. This letter criticised the methods of the War Department, stated that things were badly handled, and that our preparations for war were inadequate and inefficiently managed. This letter was written after S—— had received his commission as First Lieutenant in the United States Army and was stationed in Washington. A German friend admitted that S—— was vio-