U.S.A. CONSPIRACY

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1940, Page 8

U.S.A. CONSPIRACY

18 ARRESTS Alleged Revolutionary Movement [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] NEW YORK," January 14. Mr J. Edgar Hoover announces the arrest of 18 members of tne “Christian Front,” on charges of con- f spiracy to create a revolution overthrow the Government, and establish a dictatorship. He declared that in vestigators had unearthed a small arsenal” in New York City for revolutionary purposes. . ( The arrested men functioned as a “sports club,” which Mr. Hoover described as a secret organisation specialising in training men for the projected revolution, and stealing arms from the defence forces. The club planned, among early terrorisms beginning after January 20, the eradication of Jews, the seizure of public utilities, including power, water, railroads, communications and transport also the bombing of the Jewish newspaper “Daily Forward,” and the seizure of the Customs House, and main Post Office in New York City. Federal Reserve Banks throughout the United States, and National Guard armouries. . Mr. Hoover said that the principals among those arrested were John F. Cassidy, leader of the "Christian Front,” who is addresse.fi as the ‘Fuehrer,” also William B shop, leader of the Sports Club. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents/confiscated completed and uncompleted bombs, rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Mr. Hoover added that the conspiracy had been going on for some months. They used telescopic cam-, eras, and recorded armed drills z at Narrowsburg camp 100 miles in from New York. Cassidy always received a salute similar to that of the Nazis. Mr. Hoover declined to discuss the possibility of any connection with foreign agents, but revealed it was proposed to establish a government described as similar to Hitler’s. At least one member of the “Christian Front” is a member of the Ger-man-American Bund. Many are connected with the United States reserve forces.

The “Christian Front" had thousands of members. An estimate of the armed men engaged in the revolutionary conspiracy is impossible, pending completion of the nationwide investigation. The search for arms continues.

The Sports Club planned to bomb the police department, and. discussed the assassination of 12 Congressmen, declaring: “They should be taught a lesson tor voting for the repeal of tne arms embargo.”

PARTICULARS OF MEN ARRESTED. NEW YORK, January 14. Bishop, who was born in Vienna, was deported three times from England and Belgium. Seven of the arrested men are members of the National Guard or the Naval Reserve, three of whom are Irish, one German, and three are Americanborn. One is a Captain in the National Guard.

“Christian Front” Claim

TO UPHOLD SOCIAL JUSTICE. NEW YORK, January 14. Those arrested include employees of the Edison, Postal, Telegraph and Cable Companies. Cassidy and other members of the Christian Front often called Father Coughlin “Our Leader.” They \also “committed the Christian Front to support the principles of social justice,” which principles Father Coughlin enunciated.

Father Coughlin, the radio priest, had declined to recognise any official connection with the Christian Front. Father Coughlin "'now declares that he frequently has condemned the Christian Front. The use of his name was not authorised j