GERMANS IN AMERICA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 265, 9 October 1939, Page 9

GERMANS IN AMERICA.

STARTLING DISCLOSURES. WASHINGTON,,Oct. 6. Neil Ness, a former official of the Nazi Bund, testified before the Dies Committee investigating un-American activities that lie “helped” a German agent photograph United States Navy destroyers and submarine bases at San Diego (California ). He also testified that the Bund, through members employed ns mechanics in key industries, had perfected plans to “paralyse the Pacific Coast from Seattle .to San Diego,” including the destruction of public works. The committee counsel, Air Whitley, observed that “this is the organisation which Fritz Kuhn (the leader) said was purely an American political organisation.”

TALK OF SABOTAGE. AAIERICAN INQUIRIES AIADE. AV ASHING TON, Oct. 7. The Director of tho Federal Bureau of Investigation, Air Edgar Hoover, revealed that G-men had been investigating reports of sabotage plots lor four or five days. The Navy declined to comment on rumours from Los Angeles that a sabotago plot was discovered in the battleship Arizona. This refusal is due to the policy of almost wartime secrecy. However, some naval officials said privately that they believed the rumours were unfounded. The reports followed tho sudden cancellation of the leave of the Arizona’s sailors after the vessel returned to San Pedro from a week’s target practice.

Mr Hoover, who is a guest_ at a convention in San Francisco, announced that lie would soon be going to Los Angeles to investigate the sabotago rumours. He added that the G-men were receiving more than 200 espionage reports daily.