CLEVER MAPPING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21148, 16 July 1943, Page 4

CLEVER MAPPING

GERMAN INTERNEE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCES SKETCHES IN CAPTIVITY (By Telegraph—Press Asßn.— Copyright.) SYDNEY, July 15. A German who came to Australia in 1938 prepared sketch maps of Australian defence installations while he was in an internment camp. This German, Karl Oswald Thicrfeldcr, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Criminal Court to two charges of having obtained and recorded information in a manner likely to prejudice the defence of the Commonwealth. Thierfelder has been remanded for sentence. News of the trial lias been released by the Australian Director of General Security, Brigadier Simpson. Before the war, Thierfelder worked as a mechanic for a German motor organisation, said Brigadier Simpson. He acquired a great deal of information about Australia's defence positions and installations and about some measures of a secret, nature. After the outbreak of war Thierfelder was interned, but the knowledge he possessed had been gained' in such a thorough manner that he was able to prepare carefully annotated sketch maps showing many of these installations. “While much of Thierfcldcr’s information could have been gained from observation, some vital facts in his possession were obtained by listening to idle chatter,” declared Brigadier Simpson. “There is still far too much loose talk. People must develop a security sense.” Brigadier Simpson announced that another internee from an overseas country had pleaded guilty to four counts of having in his possession documents containing information of military value which might be useful to the enemy. The case is being heard in camera.