RUBBER SMUGGLING PLOT

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13996, 28 January 1916, Page 2

RUBBER SMUGGLING PLOT

: A smuggling plot on a big scale at New York has-been: unearthed ;'..(s&.ys the Sa:i Francisco correspoTidenti .p.f the Auckland "Star"), and Federal officials have evidence to prove that efforts have been made to surreptitiously convey Vast quantities of -American rubber from "the United States to Germany. These officials., .openly > .asser.t...that the, plot had the direct backing of the German Government. It was learned tbat Dr. Heinrich Albert, wliose activity, in the German propaganda in New York resulted in his return to Berlin, was at tlie head of the scheme. Dr. Albert gave the instructions to M>ax Jaeger, on which a Mjss Anna Dekkors was engaged to carry 3,500 pounds of crude rubber. Going aboard a steamship she was suspected at" :New York, : and a search of her rtrunks revealed the presence of the 3,/:.00 pounds.. of rubber. [Dr. Albert supplied the,funds for the v plot from the Deutsches Bank, with which he is connected as head of the rubber department. DX Albert also securod tlie release from the German army of- a man who was selected by Jaeger to meet agents at Rotterdam and take oare of their .luggage containing the rubber. The value that is'attached to rubber in Germany just: nowis illustrated ■ byi t-lie,.; scale; of .• prices which were tqbQ. paid th© big corps of agent 3 Ayhe were to travel back and forfih I beliweoh ; New York '-arid' Rotterf j dam. On each' trip they were to carry ■in-..ti'unks,;..bags, and-packing ; c.ases ( : not less than 1,500 pounds of rubber. ' each. P.ubber-is..selling. in .Now York at 7S cents per poxirid.' It- is worth 1-5 dollars (£3) per pound in B-cflih. ; For this service each agent was to have the choice of ''first^or second- cabin■•: passage on the ships as desired; an,allowance of 60 dollars for tips, 75 dollars for baggagemGn,; and 175 dollars ;fdr exi>e.n-ses-iiv Eotte'iifSani?, and-;*Net^-York between .' vOyagfes." .liV: laddi-tioiiJ;.:'Ortn|peii--sation of 150 dollars per tHp \yasto 7je. paid tQ:.^cli\^g(»afer' f ;;i^:;,;;.!;-i;';, : - I '