The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-20
AMERICANS NABbED
IN FRENCH CLEANUP
| OF ESPIONAGE ring
Salesman and Wife Accused Of
Being Leaders of Great
Spy Set-Up
EIGHT OTHERS ARE HELD
Canadian Couple Said to Be Co.
Leaders OF International
Organization

Paris, Dec. 20.-(P1-An American
salesman and his wife and natur-
allied Canadian couple were under
arrest Wednesday charged by the
French police with heading an al
legged espionage service reaching into
the French ministry Of marine itself.
Ten arrests in all were made and
police said one other leader. whom
they did not name, mad escaped.
The American salesman was de-
scribed by police as Robert switz, %,
born in East Orange. N. ]. He was
arrested without fight and police
said they believe him to be the chief
Of band of 10 persons, including
five women, all Of whom are held.
Previously the police announced
they had made IL arrests but later
they indicated eight of them had
been released temporarily. although,
they were being kept under surveil-
lance.
The gendarmes said they found
10000 francs in Switz' room, together
with number Of military documents
Arrests Halt Flight
They said others OF the alleged ring
were preparing to flee when they
were caught in the roundup.
Arrested with Switz was his wife.
The man whom police described as
Canadian merchant was Benjamin
Bercowitz.
Police identified him as the CO.
chief of the alleged espionage band
and said they arrested him as he pre-
pared for flight-his bags already
packed-shortly after Switz was TAX
en- into custody.
Three envelopes containing $4,000
francs, which the gendarmes said
were intended for accomplices. were
found in Bercowitz' pockets. His wife
was said by the police to have had
10000 francs sewn into her skirt.
Among the alleged espionage ma
terial which the police confiscated
were three wireless sets, including 8
clandestine sending outfit, military
documents, Photographic plates and
movie cameras and large sums OF
money.
Only Tuesday War Minister Edou-
ard Daladier announced the govern.
ment would seek credits to expand
her iron ring" OF border defenses
Ito the sea-"
Work on Fortifications
For three years, workers in The
Metz and Lauter border regions have
been employed on q steel and con.
crete line OF Notifications l25 mile.
long from which army leaders say {
continuous barrage could be laie
down.
i The roundup is the climax OF a two
year search for spies, particular.
along the frontiers where scores o.
isolated cases OF espionage hav'
; been reported in which several indi
viduals have been convicted.
The most recent prosecution re-
suited in the conviction Of three mel
at Thionville Tuesday.
An Austrian, Clement Bruss. wa
sentenced to five years imprison
ment on charge OF receiving maj
Of French Notifications from JOSEPH
Schohn, workman employed In tn
building Of fort. Schohn was sen
fenced to serve two years In prison
Louis Doll, another workman, wa
fined.
The revelation OF the internationa
band. reported to include italians
, Yugoslavs, Czechoslovakians. Scandi
navians and Frenchmen-operatin
with women accomplices-was tn
elimination Of eight months of trail
ing suspects by 800 crack detective
and secret service men after they ha,
. received q secret tip.