ALLEGED ESPIONAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 8

ALLEGED ESPIONAGE

TRIAL OF HERMAN GOERTZ FURTHER EVIDENCE BY ACCUSED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, March 6. (Received March 8, at 5.5 p.m.) Herman Goertz, giving further f evidence said he had two brothers in the German Army. His father-in-law was a retired vice-admiral, and his brother-in-law was in the German War Ministry. His literary trip to England was financed by an actress connection by marriage, who lent him £SOO on personal security. He took no papers to Germany nor the sketch he made of Manston Aerodrome, which he left at Broadstairs. He was surprised to notice public roads crossing the landing grounds. This was an example of childish silliness in aerodrome building. He told the Stationery Office that he was a foreigner before buying the Air Force list, and they, said " That is all right," and offered him-" The Air Pilot." He found nobody on the list who might have been his prisoner in the war time and established no connection with English air officers. He was arrested after liis return to England from Germany to investigate historical data for a novel. He was searched, and his note books were temporarily confiscated. He had as an aviator idea* about the aerial defence of England and Germany. Only an airman could appreciate what an English and German aerial war would be like. He intended to write about these ideas. Portion of his novel was in Marianne Emil's diary and the remainder was destroyed, but the skeleton of the plot was in his brain. Goertz, questioned about Colonel , Dressier, his ex-squadron leader, pointed out that this might make him say things dangerous to himself under the German law. He.would not try to defend himself if he thought he would subsequently be charged with high treason in "Germany.", j Questioned regarding the identity of a friend whom he visited in Berlin after calling on his brother-in-law at the War Ministry, Goertz replied: "I dare not answer. It is impossible." He admitted the receipt from Germany of £lO2 on August 30, though the.normal remittance allowed was only 12s. Goertz's diary showed that he visited Mildenhall; Duxford, Hatfield, and Martlesham, all of whieh, had aerodromes, and he wrote particulars of them in his diary. c After his arrest he was not astonished to find that there were no details of the Air Fprce aerodrome buildings in " The Air Pilot." All the information he gathered from Manston and from the Air Force list had been destroyed. He marked what he thought ■ were petrol stores on his plan. The case was adjourned.