SPY SENSATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 68, 21 March 1934, Page 7

SPY SENSATION.

HISTORY'S BIGGEST.

FRENCH REVELATION. Gang Works Against Britain, U.S.A. and France,, JOB GERMANY AND SOVIET. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 12.30 p.m.) PARIS, March 20. The espionage investigations are developing into what the French police describe as the biggest sensation in the history of gang spying, and is likely eventually to involve 200 arrests. Confessions of two Americans, Robert Switz and liis wife, show that an international gang, - supplied with unlimited money, is working for Germany and Russia to tho detriment of Britain, Frapce and the United States. After speaking to the police rounded up suspects and arrested 16. They discovered a code conveying information of vital importance relative to the industrial mobilisation of France and a record of payments to officers and engineers. Documents obtained by the gang were sent to Switzerland, where they were copied and sent on to Moscow and Berlin. The trial is expected to begin in July.

A message from Paris last December stated that as the result of a campaign carried on by 300 members of the Secret Service over a period of eight months, the most sensational espionage case since the war was discovered, leading to the arrest of 12 suspects, all of whom had prepared for -flight. Much Polish, Russian and German correspondence was seized. It was then alleged that the ring leader was a Canadian-born merchant named Bercowitz and hia wife. A. large amount of money was found in their house. Others of those arrested included an American named Switz and his wife, French schoolmistress, who was an ardent wireless enthusiast and photographer, and Louie Martin, an interpreter at the Ministry of Marine, who fainted when arrested.

GERMAN SPY RING. DISCOVERED BY CZECHS. (Received 1 p.m.) PRAGUE, March 20. The Czecho-Slovakian police claim to have unearthed evidence proving the existence of an espionage organisation working on behalf of Germany. Twentyfive arrests have been made.