THEFT OF PLANS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 145, 22 May 1939, Page 7

THEFT OF PLANS.

ORDNANCE FACTORY CASE. LONDON, May 19. Tn the Euxton Ordnance Factory case involving tho theft of important plans, Joseph Kelly, aged 31, an employee at the factory, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment at the Manchester Assizes to-day. The Judge in sentencing him _ said that possession of this plan in the event of an Anglo-German war would enable the Germans to bomb and destroy the factory. Kelly was alleged to liavo sold a vital plan of tho Royal Ordnance Factory at Euxton in Lancashire, to Germany, lio wa<j tracked there by British Secret Service airents. Kellv was said to have communicated with the German Consul in Liverpool, who put him in touch with secict agents in Holland. The police found in Kelly’s house correspondence from those agents and one or two missing plans. 3he other plan, it was staled, would be of the greatest assistance to enemy bombers. A bomb placed accurately would cause untold havoc and less of life. It was known to be in Kelly’s possession when he wont to G Tho anJ factorv was recently opened at a cost of £10,000,000 and is behoved (o he the most modern and most efficient in the world. It took two years to construct The plant includes underground bombproof chambers, 900 buildings, 50 miles of roads, 25 miles of railways and 30 miles of underground passages.