ARGENTINE NAVY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24832, 2 March 1944, Page 5

ARGENTINE NAVY

REVOLT REPORTED SUPPORT FOR RAMIREZ COUNTRY FACING CHAOS (Eecd. 11.15 p.m.) NEW YORK. March 1 Reports from Buenos Aires state that the* Argentine Navy, under Rear-Admiral Vernengo Lima, revolted against the Government, says the Montevideo correspondent of the United Press. The revolt followed a. violent Cabinet session in which Colonel Juan Peron, Minister of War, warned his colleagues that the country was facing complete chaos unless it followed the United Nations' policy. The meeting ended in complete disagreement. Reuter's correspondent learns that*an Argentine naval representative called on President Farrell and demanded the reinstatement of General Ramirez. According to an authoritative source in Buenos Aires, General Ramirez is believed to have escaped from his residence to address a proclamation to the country.

Armed police have occupied the Buenos Aires post office. The police chief, Yelazco, admitted that the situation was extremely serious.

The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that it is authoritatively stated that the United States will not recognise the Farrell Government if it is satisfied that General Ramirez was forced to transfer his duties to the present regime. The acting-Secretary of State, Mr. E. J. Stettinius, in a personal conversation with the Argentine Ambassador, Dr. Escobar, emphasised the seriousness with which the Government regards the situation.

AXIS SPIES ARRESTED ACTIVITIES IN ARGENTINA NEW YORK, Feb. 29 Argentine Federal police announced the arrest of a number of Axis spies, including the crews of Spanish vessels, who established a clandestine radio station and assisted the escape or sailors from the scuttled German warship Admiral Graf Spee, says the Associated Press correspondent in Buenos Aires. The police have proof that a German agent, Guillermo Seidlitz, upon instructions from the German attache, General Frederich Wolff, took photographs of the Argentine coastline as part of a plot to land German agents by submarine.

The police are investigating the role the German news agencies, Deutsches Nochrichtenburs and Transocean, have played in Nazi espionage, but the investigation of Japanese activities is hampered by language difficulties.