FEMALE SPIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24189, 3 February 1942, Page 5

FEMALE SPIES

MEXICO'S AXIS RING

FRIENDSHIP WITH DEPUTIES

MOVEMENTS OF ENEMY ALIENS (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) MEXICO CITY, Feb. 1 The Conservative . newspaper Excelsior declares that Mexican Intelligence* Department has confirmed the existence of a group of female Axis spies, who have become close friends with high Government officials through exercising their charms. It adds that the revelations of Axis espionage made in the Chamber of Deputies resulted from the anger of one deputy when a young attractive spy failed to keep a week-, end appointment with him. The paper asserts that one of the Mata Hari Corps was, seen with Arnulfo Arias, the deposed pro-Axis President of Panama, who was recently in Mexico, but has since left for Venezuela. Department of the Interior officials declare that Mexico is inaugurating much closer supervision of the movements of Axis aliens, especially those who have arrived since December 7, and American-Mexican collaboration against Axis agents will henceforth be increased. The Mexican Congressional Investigation Committee disclosed last Friday the existence of an Axis spy ring of 35 foreigners, including a nephew of the German Ambassador to Turkey, von Papen, and Fritz von Schlehbruegge, also another Nazi agent who cunningly tapped the telephone -wires to the United States Embassy. An unnamed beautiful Alsatian woman, dubbed the leader of the . Axis Mata Han Corps, • was arrested.

DEFENCE OF COAST

MOUNTING RECORD

TURKISH AMBASSADOR

UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 1 Informed quarters say that the United States will allot 150 pursuit planes to the Mexican Army, also eight over-age destroyers to the Mexican Navy for use in patrolling the Pacific coast. Military circles point out that Mexico's new defence scheme, which hitherto has been concentrated on Lower California and adjacent shores, is now being extended from : Mazataian South to Acapulco. A large number of troops have been ordered to guard the oilfields.

SINKING OF MERCHANTMEN

DETAILS OF LATEST VICTIMS

LONDON. Feb. 1 Details of the naval air attacks on Axis shipping are given by the Air Ministry news service, which says one large and one medium merchant ship on their way to North Africa with valuable supplies for the Axis forces were probably sunk by naval torpedo bombers in tliG contra! Mediterranean on Friday night. ■ „ . On the previous night the same pilots torpedoed a fully-laden oil tanker. The larger of the two merchant ships was last seen hove-to, listing to starboard, and down by the stern, with smoke billowing from below the qecks. lno second, which was of medium size, bad also stopped and was listing to port after the attack.- . A sub-lieutenant, who opened the attack 011 the larger ship, said that after his torpedo struck the vessel clouds of smoke and steam came from it. Two more pilots quickly followed up this attack. The sub-lieutenant scored a hit amidships and saw the merchantman settling down by the stern. | There was a rough sea running in |be area where the smaller vessel was located. To make sure of the target pilots came down to less than !30it. from the water to release their torpedoes. The ship stopped immediately and began to list to port. The pilots engaged on the raids believe that neither vessel could have stayed afloat for long.

(Reed. 7.40 p.m.) ISTANBUL, Feb. 1 Ahmet Reouf Orbay who has a reputation as a warm friend of the British, has been appointed Turkish Ambassador to London in succession to L>r. Tewfik Ructu Aras, who is returning to Turkey. It is believed that Dr. Aras intends to re-enter politics.