The Washington times., 1938-03-11
SUP ( R-PLANE.
PLANS FEARED.
SOLD BY SPIES.
Mechanic of Seversky
Concern Arrested

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Fear that plans for the super
planes now being constructed for
the Army and Navy may be in the
hands of "a foreign power" were
expressed here today. following
word from New York that Depart
ment of Justice agents have ar
rested a mechanic In the Seversky
Aircraft Corporation for investiga-
ton in connection with an inter-
national spy ring.
The man under arrest is deS-
cribed as a trained mechanic"
In the experimental division Of the
corporation at Farmingdale, N. Y,
where the most powerful pursuit
planes in the world are under con-
struction.
PLANE SEEN HERE
Washington had q view of one
Of these planes last December
when Major Alexander De Sever
sky, one-time ace of the Imperial
Russian air force and now one Of
the most noted plane designers In
the world, landed here after set
ting a new nonstop record be-
tween Havana and Washington.
Major De Seversky, who COM
nnanded the Russian air forces in
the Baltic Sea during the World
War and who fled to this country
following the Bolshevik revolu-
tion, made the 1,400-mile hop
from Havana to Washington air
port in 4 hours 81 minutes, max
ing about $50 miles an hour.
Great secrecy surrounded his
plane, which was placed in a
hangar on his arrival and closely
guarded. After visiting here for
several days, Major De Seversky
took off for New York, and set
another new record for air travel
between the two cities, landing his
ship at the FarIningdale Field in
45 minutes, setting an unofficial
record of 5.33 miles 9 minute for
the flight.
ANOTHER RECORD I
Just a year prior to that time,
Major De Seversky set q world
record for a nonstop flight be-
tween New York and Miami in
one Of his amphibian planes. max
ing the flight in hours 46
minutes. ...,.
Because of the great speed and
radical design of the Seversky
planes, ne was awarded contracts
to build $4,000, 900 worth Of ships |
for the Army and Navy.
&The arrest of the mechanic at
the Seversky plant follows the re-
cent arrest of two men and q i
woman by Department of Justice
agents on espionage charges. i
s The: trio, Guenther Rumrich,
former sergeant in the Army: Eric
Chaser, private in the Air Corps,
and Johanna Holman, hairdresser
on q transatlantic liner, were
charged with attempting to obtain
atrplane designs for an unnamed
foreign power.
=" It was believed the arrest Of the |
mechanic came from information
obtained from them. Two Depart
nent Of Justice agents, who have
been assigned to the espionage
work, went to the Seversky plant
yesterday and placed the suspect |
under arrest.
GRILLED ON PLOT
He was then taken back to
Department Of Justice headquar-
ters in New York and grilled by
agents in connection with his part |
In the alleged spy plot.
. The greatest secrecy surrounded
the case, and Reed Vetterli, vet
eran agent in charge of the FBI
office in New York, said there
were strict orders from the Attor-
ney Generals office not to dis
cuSs it.
The arrest Of the three men
and the woman in connection with
the plane plot is the latest devel-
opment in the Governments drive
against foreign spies from coast
to coast, a situation so tense that
recently the Navy established a
patrol Of fast destroyers along the
Pacific Coast and placed heavy
guards around all navy yards and
shore establishments.
2FLEE COUNTRY
In Washington John Farms
worth, dismissed lieuteant com
mander, was found guilty of es-
pionage and is now serving a long
prison term. Two naval attaches
of foreign power hastily left this
country following his arrest.