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RACING MAN IN A NEW ROLE. llerlin. Germany. December 13. Alexander Smith Cochran, a wealthy young New York sportsman, who was recently made an official dispatch-bearer between London and Iterliu, is held up at the Dutch frontier, according to advices received by the American ambassador. James W. Gerard, despite tlib fact that he Is carrying American diplomatic dispatches and lias complete credentials. An In. vestigation is being made to .iscertain why the German authorities wont permit him to proceed. It is tihderstocd here that Mr. Cochran left London several days ago with diplomatic pouches. The American embassy at Loudon recently selected him as an official courier to make regular trips from Loudon to Berlin and from London to Paris. Theretofore the American diplomats had been dependent on Itinerant travelers whom they might trust with dispatches. This was an unsatisfactory system. Mr. Cochran was in Lopdon and volunteered to do the work, and, despite the fact of his millions, lie was put on the payroll at a small salary and officially made an employee. Mr. Cochran is known as one of the richest men in Volikers. His jdiilanthropios are many and he has won renown as a sportsman. He is a brother-in law of Thomas Bwing, Jr., commissioner of patents lu Washington. He owns a string of racing thoroughbreds, including His Majesty, and last year ho built the yacht Vaintie for the defense of the Americas Cup.
