“CONSPIRACY OUT OF QUESTION”

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 14 January 1937, Page 7

“CONSPIRACY OUT OF QUESTION”

SUSPECTED SABOTAGE IN BRITISH NAVY CASES OF MALICIOUS DAMAGE REVEALED BY ENQUIRY (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) LONDON, January 12. Commenting on the unexplained dismissal of eight employees from the naval dockyards at Devonport, Mr Hector C. Bywater, in the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “A searching investigation into cases of this kind was begun last spring. There is reason to believe that in more than one case of suspected sabotage the investigation showed that the damage was the result of carelessness, but in other instances malicious damage was held to be established.. “The scope of the enquiry was narrowed, and it was soon obvious that anything like a widespread conspiracy to disable Britain’s fighting ships was out of the question. The authorities are satisfied that no more loyal body of men than those employed at the dockyards could be found.” According to the “Daily Mail,” one of the dismissed dockyard workers possessed communist literature. The newspapers are protesting against the Admiralty’s action in withholding the reason for the dismissal of the dockyard workers, all of whom, it is said, have done long dockyard service; one has more than 30 years’ service and another 25 years. All deny subversive activities. One admits that he was once a member of the communist party, but has not been associated with the movement for 10 years. The unions to which the men belonged are taking up the matter. Questions also will be asked in Parliament. The secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union said: “We have thoroughly questioned one man and are satisfied that his discharge is unwarranted.”