Revolution Plot Unearthed By G-Men; 18 Arrests

Northern Advocate, 15 January 1940, Page 6

Revolution Plot Unearthed By G-Men; 18 Arrests

(Received 2 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 14. The Chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (Mr J. Edgar Hoover) announces the arrest of 18 members of the “Christian Front,” on charges of conspiracy to create a revolution, overthrow the Government, and establish a dictatorship. Mr Hoover declared his investigators (G-men) unearthed a “small arsenal” in New York City, intended for revolutionary purposes. Those arrested functioned as a “sports club.” Terrorism Plans. Mr Hoover described the club as a secret organisation, specialising in training men for projected revolution and for stealing arms from defence forces. The club planned among its early terrorism, beginning after January 20, the eradication of the Jews, the seizure of public utilities, including power, water railroads, communications. and transport, the bombing of the Jewish newspaper “Daily Forward, and seizure of the Customshouse, main Post Office of New York City, Federal Reserve Banks throughout the United States, and National Guard armouries. Bombs, Ammunition, Confiscated. Mr Hoover said the principals among those arrested were John F. Cassidy, leader of the “Christian Front,” addressed ,us Fuehrer, and William Bishop, leader of the sports club. Federal agents confiscated completed and uncompleted bombs, rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Mr Hoover added that the conspiracy was at least six months old. The F. 8.1. have used telescopic cameras to record armed drill at Narowsburg Camp, 100 miles up-State in New York. Cassidy always received a salute similar to the Nazis. Mr Hoover declined to discuss the possibility of connection with foreign agents, but reveals that the plotters proposed to establish a Government described as being similar to Hitler’s. Thousands of Members. At least one member of the “Christian Front” was a member of the German-American Bund, while many were connected with the U.S. reserve forces. The “Christian Front” had thousands of members. An estimate of the number of armed men engaged in the revolutionary conspiracy was impossible, pending the completion of the nation-wide investigation. The search for arms continues. The “sports club” had planned to bomb the Police Department, and had discussed the assassination of 12 Congressmen, declaring that They should be taught a lesson for voting for the repeal of the arms embargo.” The Mexico City correspondent of the Associated Press says it is reliably stated that secret police are investigating reports that Nazi agents have headquarters in Mexico City, from which they are conducting sabotage in the United States. No arrests have yet been made. Government sources assert that the secret police have evidence that German agents have been crossing the frontier frequently.