GERMAN PLOTTERS IN AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3053, 14 April 1917, Page 10

GERMAN PLOTTERS IN AMERICA.

CONSPIRACY AGAINST INDIA,

THE CHAKIABERTY CASE,

Further indication of tho wide range of German plotting in America, according to tho New' York police, was furnished recently by tho arrest of two men who gave their names as Dr. C. Handor Clinkiabercy, a Hindu physician, and Dr. Ernest Sekunner-, a tierman, who were charged with having conspired to sot afoot an armed cxpe-' dition for tho invasion of India by Way of China. After five hours' grilling cross-examination at 'Police' Headquarters, tho two prisoners broke down and admitted their efforts. Not the least interesting feature of their admission was their connection with the alleged plot of Wolf von Tgel, the attache of the German Embassy, who was ! indicted by the Federal grand jury for his part in the futile plans to blow up the Wellaud Canal in Canada. In addition to violation of the Federal statute forbidding attempts to set on foot a military expedition against a friendly nation, Dr. Chakiaberty was charged with having fraudulently obtainod a passport by posing as a Persian merchant about a year ago, when he had occasion to go to Berlin, in connection with the prosecution ' of the plot. j His Financial Baoktng. After this visit to Berlin, Chakiaberty returned to New York with, the endorsement of high German officials and obtained 00,000 dollars (£12,000) from 'von Igel for the initial expenses of the contemplated expedition. Most of the money seemed to have been spent in the printing of anti-British literature in various Indian languages and in 6ending an unnamed Chinaman, described as influential by the plotters, to arrange with the Chinese Governmentto permit the Btoring of arms and ammunition in Chinese territory, preparatory to the invasion of India. Nothing had been heard of this man since he started for the East. The police said that they had had Chakiaberty and Sckunner under surveillance for several months. ' The men maintained a well-furnished suite of rooms and apparently kopt very much to-themselves. ■ . ■ About a year ago Chakiaberty obtained a passport, permitting him to visit Berlin, by posing as a Persian merchant. He reached Berlin, and discussed his plans for stirring up trouble in. India with certain offioials there. Tkat_Cliakiaberty was successful may be inferred from the fact that when he returned to' New York he obtained from von Igel £12,000 to pay the expeuses of the preliminary work of preparing the expedition. A good many pamphlets' and. leaflets in different Indian languages were* printed, some of which were sent abroad.

The Mysterious Chinaman. The next step was to dispatch, the "iniiueutial Chinaman" to China. Nothing had been heard from this man, and so no additional steps were taken to purchase or send arms and ammunition. In the cellar of their house, besides the literature, the police discov-. ered a chemical laboratory, but '■ a thorough search failed to reveal any explosives, and the police seemed to be convinced that the laboratory was used only for , commercial purposes. One of the prisoners admitted that be was endeavouring to compound a preparation that could be used to disguise contraband of war. What this contraband was ho dsclined . to .say, but 10,000 little aluminium boxes,; about the size of pill-boxes, were found in the laboratory.