Edwin Emerson Makes Hasty Exit; Propagandist “just Went to Europe”

“Where did the Colonel and his lady go last Saturday night?”

This question piqued the curiosity of New York’s anti-Nazi factions yesterday when it became known that Colonel Edwin Edwin Emerson, onetime prisoner of war in Germany, post war repatriate to the United States, and present-day Hitlerite propagandist, sailed with his wife aboard the Bremen on Saturday.

As far as could be learned yesterday, he “just went to Europe.” Whether or not he will visit New Germany could not be told. Who will do the propagandizing until the propagandist returns was another poser that defied explanation. When will he return and what does he hope to do while abroad were two other stickers that remain unanswered.

The only substantiated information that could be obtained merely consisted in the clause. “He just went to Europe.”

Colonel Emerson’s office, from which he dispatches encouraging bits of news to Hitlerized papers in Germany and where he broadcasts awful incriminations against the Jews, did not respond when called over the telephone. The nearest approach to a response came when the caller once received a busy signal.

Colonel Emerson’s home at 215 E. 15th St. was barely more communicative. “We don’t know nothing about Colonel Emerson, here,” the voice answered. “He just lived here, and he never told us nothing about his business. The only thing we can say is what he told us, ‘I’m going to Europe,’ he told us. No, I don’t know why. No, I don’t know whether he intends going to Germany.No, I don’t know who is taking care of his business while he is away. No, I don’t know nothing about him or his affairs.”

The North German Lloyd Steamship Lines, under whose flag the Nazi propagandist sailed, were even less communicative. “His name isn’t on our passenger list,” a clerk at the shipping office replied when asked whether or not he had left and when he would be back at his desk at 15 Battery Place in the Whitehall Building, just across the hall from the German consulate. Other than the fact that this name did not appear on the passenger list, on information could be obtained from the line.

Emerson’s disappearance was secret. It was so secret, in fact, that government agents are bewildered as to the manner in which the colonel made his exit.

Emerson a few months ago testified before the federal grand jury during the time that body questioned local Nazis on the disappearance of Heinz Spanknoebel, who was then wanted for leading the American Nazi agitation group and for representing the Hitler government subversively. Emerson and Spanknoebel’s exits from the country were conducted with similar secrecy.

PROPITOUS TIME

The trip to Europe undertaken by Emerson comes at most propitious time, for he is condidered as one certain to be called before the projected Congressional probe committee, when and if the House of Representaives gives that body prower of subpoena and other authority ot conduct an investigation of Nazi and anti-Semitic affairs in the United States.

Emerson has long been identified with Geman affairs. Born in Germany, he emigrated to this country at an early age and become a soldier under. Teddy Roosevelt, when the man who was later made President of the United States took part in the Spanish American War.

Later Emerson earned the title, “Colonel” by appointment to that rank in the New York State National Guard.

Early in the World War, Emerson was given the opportunity to clear out of enemy territory, accordign to statements by American sitizens in Berlin at the time, but he remained untlt he was taken as prisoner of war. He was inerned in enemy trritory during the balance of the war, at hte close of which he returned t the United States.

He has spoken frequently during recent months in behalf of he Hitler goernment, and at one public session in a White Planins church he gave vent to a mericiless attack upon the Jews.