ALLEGED ESPIONAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22823, 6 March 1936, Page 7

ALLEGED ESPIONAGE

TRIAL OF HERMAN GOERTZ TWO CHARGES PREFERRED (United Press Association) 1 (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, March 4. The trial of Herman Goertz (previously cabled as Gortz) was opened at the Old Bailey. He was indicted on two counts—first, with making a sketch plan or note of the Manston Royal Air Force station calculated to be useful to an enemy; secondly, with conspiring with Marianne Emil, a young German woman, to commit offences against the Official Secrets Act, 1920. Goertz, entering the dock, stood stiffly at attention, and bowed to the judge. He pleaded not guilty. Mr Cassels, K.C., for the Crown, recapitulated many of the circumstances previously cabled. He said Marianne did not enter into the case. She was Goertz's clerk or secretary. Counsel alluded to an unaddressed letter found in the bungalow headed "Dr Herman Goertz," and referring to " My general application for employment within the sphere of the German Air Ministry." The letter recalled that during 1918 he had .been an air intelligence and interrogation officer for the examination of prisoners. He had since made contact with many American and English wartime aviators. " Officers whom I interrogated in those days have introduced me to their circles. lam even now etill in touch with military aviators on the active list, or can probably get in touch with them again." Mr Cassels added that the sketch of Manston aerodrome was found hidden among the clothes in Goretz's cabin trunk. Detective Smith produced a statement by Goertz saying that his movements were connected with the collection of material for a novel featuring aviation, in which he was naturally interested. Lieutenant-colonel William Cook, General Staff Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at the War Office, produced translations of German documents found on Goertz or at the bungalow, and a diary from which he read entries relating to aerodromes. The diary contained the address of the headquarters of the Nazi organisations in London. Defending counsel asked: Do you think it curious that a German in London should note that address? Lieutenant-colonel Cook: Yes. Lieutenant-colonel Cook admitted that there was a notice board at the Manston Aerodrome saying plainly what it was, and direction posts. The identity certificate showed that Goertz became a solicitor in 1925, a notary in 1927, and a solicitor of the Hamburg law courts in 1929. The hearing was adjourned. Dr Herman Goertz, a German, was arrested on November 19 on a charge of espionage. He was alleged to have had possession of documents contrary to the Official Secrets Act. Before the war he studied surgery at Edinburgh. He> returned to Germany on the outbreak of hostilities, and served with the German Air Force. After the war he frequently visited England, occasionally accompanied by a young and beautiful golden-haired woman, believed to be his daughter or niece, who acted as his secretary. He spent varying periods in the West of England and in places near London. Early last year he went back to Germany. In the late autumn Goertz announced that he intended to return to England for a few weeks. He was arrested as lie disembarked at Harwich.