“Did I understand you to say,” asked Aucher, “that he had gone to join his wife?”
“No,” replied Ruroede, “she will be in Germany before him. She sailed last Tuesday. He went to Cuba first and there got a Mexican passport of some sort that will take him to Spain. He ought to be in Barcelona to-day and from there go to Italy, and then from there work his way into Germany.”
“You say Von Wedell spent $3,500 of his own money?” Aucher asked.
“No, no,” exclaimed Ruroede, “he got it from the fund.”
“Well, who puts up this money—who’s back of it?”
“The Government.”
“The German Government?”
“Yes,” said Ruroede. “You see it is this way: There is a captain here who is attached to the German Embassy at Washington. He has a list of German reservists in this country and is in touch with the German consulates all through the country and in Peru, Mexico, Chile, etc. He gets in touch with them, and the consuls send reservists, who want to go to the front, on to New York. When they get here, this captain tells them: ‘Well, I can’t do anything for you, but you go down to see Ruroede.’ Sometimes he gives them his personal card.”
“Is this captain in reserve?” Aucher interrupted.
“Oh, no, he is active,” Ruroede replied. “You see,” he continued, “he draws on this fund for $200 or $300 or $1,000, whatever he may need, and the checks are made to read ‘on account of reservists.’ You see, they have to have food and clothing, also, so there is nothing to show that this money is paid out for passports or anything like that. I meet this captain once a week or so, and tell him what I am doing and he gives me whatever money I need. You see, there must be no connection between him and me; no letters, no accounts, nothing in writing. If I were caught and were to say what I have told you, this captain would swear that he never met me in his life before.”