1915 Events
January 6, 1915 - Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
The Provisional Directorate of the Plan of San Diego convened in a jail at Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. The directorate “commissioned” Basilio Ramos and sent him on a secret recruiting mission to the US with an inflammatory manifesto that became a psychological warfare prop of carrancísta intelligence.
January 28, 1915 - South Atlantic Ocean
The William P. Frye became the first US merchant vessel lost to hostile action in the world war. The sinking of the Frye by SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich signaled the beginning of a new phase in the naval war that would profoundly affect Latin America. Even neutral civilian vessels were now prey of combatant navies. The Etappendienst, the German Navy's secret logistics and intelligence network in the Americas, sustained the Kaiser's marauders.
The Provisional Directorate of the Plan of San Diego convened in a jail at Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. The directorate “commissioned” Basilio Ramos and sent him on a secret recruiting mission to the US with an inflammatory manifesto that became a psychological warfare prop of carrancísta intelligence.
January 28, 1915 - South Atlantic Ocean
The William P. Frye became the first US merchant vessel lost to hostile action in the world war. The sinking of the Frye by SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich signaled the beginning of a new phase in the naval war that would profoundly affect Latin America. Even neutral civilian vessels were now prey of combatant navies. The Etappendienst, the German Navy's secret logistics and intelligence network in the Americas, sustained the Kaiser's marauders.
February 2, 1915 - Vanceboro, Maine
German reserve lieutenant Werner Horn tried to blow up the Canadian Pacific Railroad bridge. He had left his job as a coffee plantation manager in Guatemala to report for military duty. For the Vanceboro bridge job, Horn received $700 from Captain Franz von Papen and 18 months in Atlanta Penitentiary from the Americans.
German reserve lieutenant Werner Horn tried to blow up the Canadian Pacific Railroad bridge. He had left his job as a coffee plantation manager in Guatemala to report for military duty. For the Vanceboro bridge job, Horn received $700 from Captain Franz von Papen and 18 months in Atlanta Penitentiary from the Americans.
Mid-February 1915 - Mexico City
Minister Heinrich von Eckardt arrived at his post at the German Legation and took control of Berlin's intelligence activities in Mexico. He was a master of diplomacy and intrique, having honed his skills in Turkey, Persia, Serbia and Greece. From 1907 to 1910, he served as Germany's minister to Cuba and was then posted to Montenegro until June 1914.
Minister Heinrich von Eckardt arrived at his post at the German Legation and took control of Berlin's intelligence activities in Mexico. He was a master of diplomacy and intrique, having honed his skills in Turkey, Persia, Serbia and Greece. From 1907 to 1910, he served as Germany's minister to Cuba and was then posted to Montenegro until June 1914.
March 9, 1915 - Brazilian coast
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm scored its final kills against Allied merchantmen.
March 14, 1915 - Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile
HMS Glasgow sank SMS Dresden, last survivor of Germany's East Asian Fleet, ending a three-month hunt in the East Pacific and South Atlantic.
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm scored its final kills against Allied merchantmen.
March 14, 1915 - Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile
HMS Glasgow sank SMS Dresden, last survivor of Germany's East Asian Fleet, ending a three-month hunt in the East Pacific and South Atlantic.
March 21, 1915 - San Juan, Puerto Rico
First shots fired by US in the world war. Army Lieutenant Teofilo Marxuach fired on German freighter Odenwald when it tried to put to sea without clearance papers. US Customs suspected that Odenwald's cargo--1,500 tons of coal and provisions--was destined to resupply an auxiliary cruiser.
First shots fired by US in the world war. Army Lieutenant Teofilo Marxuach fired on German freighter Odenwald when it tried to put to sea without clearance papers. US Customs suspected that Odenwald's cargo--1,500 tons of coal and provisions--was destined to resupply an auxiliary cruiser.
April 3, 1915 - New York City
German intelligence officer Franz von Rintelen arrived in New York with orders to stoke the violence in Mexico. Mexican factions would buy up weapons that would otherwise be sold to the Allies. Von Rintelen, a former employee of Deutsche Bank in Mexico City, also orchestrated extensive sabotage against Allied cargo ships while he formented war in Mexico.
German intelligence officer Franz von Rintelen arrived in New York with orders to stoke the violence in Mexico. Mexican factions would buy up weapons that would otherwise be sold to the Allies. Von Rintelen, a former employee of Deutsche Bank in Mexico City, also orchestrated extensive sabotage against Allied cargo ships while he formented war in Mexico.
April 11, 1915 - Norfolk, Virginia
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm joined SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich in internment in Virginia after terrorizing Latin American shipping lanes for months.
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm joined SMS Prinz Eitel Friedrich in internment in Virginia after terrorizing Latin American shipping lanes for months.
April 25, 1915 - Acajutla, El Salvador
US military attache Captain William Martin encounters German agent Fritz Duquesne in a chance meeting at a trading office. Though Martin became obsessed with tracking Duquesne, the sly Boer vanished, then reappeared in Brazil and the US as saboteur and spy, and was not arrested until 1942.
US military attache Captain William Martin encounters German agent Fritz Duquesne in a chance meeting at a trading office. Though Martin became obsessed with tracking Duquesne, the sly Boer vanished, then reappeared in Brazil and the US as saboteur and spy, and was not arrested until 1942.
May 7, 1915 - Guatemala City
Rumors declared that the German Club hosted a champagne dinner to celebrate the sinking of the Lusitania.
May 13, 1915 - Brownsville, Texas
A federal grand jury in Brownsville indicted Basilio Ramos, a Duval County beer distributor, and eight others for attempting to wage war against the United States. Unbeknownst to the jury, Mexico’s carrancista intelligence service had coopted Ramos’ extremist Plan of San Diego to destabilize the Rio Grande border. Ramos had been turned in to local police by the first Tejano he pitched on a McAllen, Texas street. He skipped bail and disappeared into Mexico, but his scheme launched months of bloody raids and resulting vigilantism in south Texas that cost the lives of hundreds of innocent people, mostly US citizens of Mexican heritage.
Rumors declared that the German Club hosted a champagne dinner to celebrate the sinking of the Lusitania.
May 13, 1915 - Brownsville, Texas
A federal grand jury in Brownsville indicted Basilio Ramos, a Duval County beer distributor, and eight others for attempting to wage war against the United States. Unbeknownst to the jury, Mexico’s carrancista intelligence service had coopted Ramos’ extremist Plan of San Diego to destabilize the Rio Grande border. Ramos had been turned in to local police by the first Tejano he pitched on a McAllen, Texas street. He skipped bail and disappeared into Mexico, but his scheme launched months of bloody raids and resulting vigilantism in south Texas that cost the lives of hundreds of innocent people, mostly US citizens of Mexican heritage.
May 25, 1915 - Washington, DC
The European war forced Latin American nations to expand economic relations with the US, a topic addressed at the Pan American Financial Conference in Washington.
The European war forced Latin American nations to expand economic relations with the US, a topic addressed at the Pan American Financial Conference in Washington.
June 1, 1915 - New York City
At the Holland House hotel in Manhattan, US and carrancista Mexican agents collaborated to infiltrate a meeting between German intelligence and ousted strongman General Victoriano Huerta. They discover a generously funded plot involving mobilization of German expats in Mexico, logistics in US border cities, and finance via banks in Mexico, US and Cuba.
At the Holland House hotel in Manhattan, US and carrancista Mexican agents collaborated to infiltrate a meeting between German intelligence and ousted strongman General Victoriano Huerta. They discover a generously funded plot involving mobilization of German expats in Mexico, logistics in US border cities, and finance via banks in Mexico, US and Cuba.
June 9, 1915 - Washington, DC
Pacifist Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned rather than sign a strong rebuke condemning Germany for the Lusitania sinking. President Wilson appointed Robert Lansing in Bryan's place. Lansing was an Ivy League lawyer who had helped establish State Department's Office of Counselor, the US' first modern, civilian intelligence institution.
June 1915 - Valparaiso, Chile
Chile began allowing armed British cargo vessels to enter her harbors, joining Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and the US.
June 27, 1915 - Newman Station, New Mexico
State Department agent Zach Cobb directed federal agents and soldiers in the apprehension of General Victoriano Huerta and Pascual Orozco just before they could enter Mexico to kindle a German-funded uprising.
Pacifist Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned rather than sign a strong rebuke condemning Germany for the Lusitania sinking. President Wilson appointed Robert Lansing in Bryan's place. Lansing was an Ivy League lawyer who had helped establish State Department's Office of Counselor, the US' first modern, civilian intelligence institution.
June 1915 - Valparaiso, Chile
Chile began allowing armed British cargo vessels to enter her harbors, joining Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and the US.
June 27, 1915 - Newman Station, New Mexico
State Department agent Zach Cobb directed federal agents and soldiers in the apprehension of General Victoriano Huerta and Pascual Orozco just before they could enter Mexico to kindle a German-funded uprising.
June 29, 1915 - Oregon coast
Freighter Annie Larsen is boarded by the US Navy, which found a large cargo of weapons intended for freedom fighters in British India.
July 1915 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Carl zur Helle, lieutenant of the German Naval Reserve and Etappendienst, took over intelligence and sabotage operations in the Buenos Aires center.
Freighter Annie Larsen is boarded by the US Navy, which found a large cargo of weapons intended for freedom fighters in British India.
July 1915 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Carl zur Helle, lieutenant of the German Naval Reserve and Etappendienst, took over intelligence and sabotage operations in the Buenos Aires center.
July 21, 1915 - Batavia, Dutch East Indies
Freighter Maverick missed her rendezvous with Annie Larsen and is last seen here under the command of Etappendienst officer Captain Fred Jebsen and manned by Indian nationalists and German sailors from interned ships in San Francisco.
Freighter Maverick missed her rendezvous with Annie Larsen and is last seen here under the command of Etappendienst officer Captain Fred Jebsen and manned by Indian nationalists and German sailors from interned ships in San Francisco.
July 28, 1915 - Port-au-Prince & Cap Haitien, Haiti
On July 28, 1915, days after Haiti’s President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was butchered in the streets by the next-of-kin of political opponents he had recently executed, US President Woodrow Wilson ordered 340 marines and sailors to land in Haiti “to restore order.” By the end of August, 2,000 more US soldiers joined them to supervise the dubious election of a US-picked candidate, Philippe Sudre Dartiguenave. German expatriates rightly figured that they were on the verge of losing their property and found natural allies among Dartiguenave’s many opponents, for whom Berlin channeled $120,000 through German ambassador Cappel… Dartiguenave was pressured into signing a US-Haiti “treaty” that became the basis of a military occupation that lasted until 1934.
On July 28, 1915, days after Haiti’s President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was butchered in the streets by the next-of-kin of political opponents he had recently executed, US President Woodrow Wilson ordered 340 marines and sailors to land in Haiti “to restore order.” By the end of August, 2,000 more US soldiers joined them to supervise the dubious election of a US-picked candidate, Philippe Sudre Dartiguenave. German expatriates rightly figured that they were on the verge of losing their property and found natural allies among Dartiguenave’s many opponents, for whom Berlin channeled $120,000 through German ambassador Cappel… Dartiguenave was pressured into signing a US-Haiti “treaty” that became the basis of a military occupation that lasted until 1934.
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September 17, 1915 - London
An Uruguayan of German descent, Augusto Alfredo Roggen, was executed by firing squad at the Tower of London for espionage for Germany.
August 4, 1915 - Concepcion, Chile
Lieutenant Wilhelm Canaris escaped from internment camp at Quiriquina Island and traversed the Andes to make his way to Buenos Aires with the assistance of German consuls and expatriates. By the end of the year he was expanding the Etappendienst network in Spain.
August 8, 1915 - King Ranch, Texas
60 Mexican guerrillas with German Mausers rode 70 miles into Texas to attack the Norias headquarters of the sprawling King Ranch. Many other attacks are orchestrated by Mexican intelligence under the guise of the Plan of San Diego.
An Uruguayan of German descent, Augusto Alfredo Roggen, was executed by firing squad at the Tower of London for espionage for Germany.
August 4, 1915 - Concepcion, Chile
Lieutenant Wilhelm Canaris escaped from internment camp at Quiriquina Island and traversed the Andes to make his way to Buenos Aires with the assistance of German consuls and expatriates. By the end of the year he was expanding the Etappendienst network in Spain.
August 8, 1915 - King Ranch, Texas
60 Mexican guerrillas with German Mausers rode 70 miles into Texas to attack the Norias headquarters of the sprawling King Ranch. Many other attacks are orchestrated by Mexican intelligence under the guise of the Plan of San Diego.
September 17, 1915 - London
At dawn, Augusto Alfredo Roggen, a bright, dapper 34-year old Uruguayan was executed by a firing squad in the Tower of London. The Scots Guards who shot him commended him for marching bravely to the chair and refusing a blindfold. Roggen had arrived in Great Britain just three months before on an ill-conceived mission that sent him to Loch Long to sniff out British torpedo testing. His cover was “farmer” though he had poor knowledge of horses and agriculture, he posed as an avid fisherman though he had no fishing gear, and his mail drops in Holland had been compromised. He was the first of three German spies from Latin America nabbed and executed in the Tower of London in 1915 and 1916. After that, the German intelligence center in Buenos Aires got its act together and successfully dispatched a regular trickle of agents to Europe throughout the rest of the war.
At dawn, Augusto Alfredo Roggen, a bright, dapper 34-year old Uruguayan was executed by a firing squad in the Tower of London. The Scots Guards who shot him commended him for marching bravely to the chair and refusing a blindfold. Roggen had arrived in Great Britain just three months before on an ill-conceived mission that sent him to Loch Long to sniff out British torpedo testing. His cover was “farmer” though he had poor knowledge of horses and agriculture, he posed as an avid fisherman though he had no fishing gear, and his mail drops in Holland had been compromised. He was the first of three German spies from Latin America nabbed and executed in the Tower of London in 1915 and 1916. After that, the German intelligence center in Buenos Aires got its act together and successfully dispatched a regular trickle of agents to Europe throughout the rest of the war.
October 19, 1915 - London
A Brazilian of Austrian descent, Fernando Buschman, was executed by firing squad at the Tower of London for espionage for Germany.
A Brazilian of Austrian descent, Fernando Buschman, was executed by firing squad at the Tower of London for espionage for Germany.
November 1, 1915 - Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
Pancho Villa’s Division del Norte made its last stand against Venustiano Carranza’s army. President Wilson made a fateful decision to allow 3,000 carrancísta troops under General Plutarco Elias Callas to traverse US territory in a maneuver to flank and defeat the villístas. Villa would never forgive the US.
Pancho Villa’s Division del Norte made its last stand against Venustiano Carranza’s army. President Wilson made a fateful decision to allow 3,000 carrancísta troops under General Plutarco Elias Callas to traverse US territory in a maneuver to flank and defeat the villístas. Villa would never forgive the US.
November 4, 1915 - Belize City
The first contingent of 129 soldiers from British Honduras departed for the “great fight for civilization and freedom” aboard HMT Verdala.
The first contingent of 129 soldiers from British Honduras departed for the “great fight for civilization and freedom” aboard HMT Verdala.
November - December, 1915 - US-Mexico Borderlands
British intelligence agent Aleister Crowley meandered along the US Southwest border with Mexico from late November through early December, after visits to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Crowley "glowingly described [Tijuana] as an oasis of 'brothels, drinking saloons and gambling hells,'" but left no details of his adventurous mission (Richard B. Spence's Secret Agent 666, p. 115) |
November 30, 1915 - Brownsville-Matamoros
Mexico's Primer Jefe Venustiano Carranza meets US Army Colonel A.P. Blocksom on the International Bridge between Matamoros and Brownsville. The smiles belied the tension between First Chief Carranza and President Woodrow Wilson.
Mexico's Primer Jefe Venustiano Carranza meets US Army Colonel A.P. Blocksom on the International Bridge between Matamoros and Brownsville. The smiles belied the tension between First Chief Carranza and President Woodrow Wilson.
December 1915 - Washington, DC
German naval attaché Captain Karl Boy-Ed and military attaché Captain Franz von Papen were declared persona non grata and sent home. The intelligence, sabotage and underground logistics networks that they built would last beyond the Armistice.
German naval attaché Captain Karl Boy-Ed and military attaché Captain Franz von Papen were declared persona non grata and sent home. The intelligence, sabotage and underground logistics networks that they built would last beyond the Armistice.
Captain Boy-Ed delayed his departure from the US as long as possible while he awaited the Kaiser's permission to marry his American sweetheart, Virginia Mackay-Smith. The Kaiser's enciphered message of approval was held up by US authorities until after Boy-Ed sailed away. The lovers rejoined after the war and married.
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Copyright 2019, J. Bisher