The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-11-24

civilian clothes, that one OF vne
Dutch party q Dutch Intelligence
officer was slain and four or more
others taken into Germany.
It was generally admitted that two
Of those kidnapped" were Stevens
and Best. The information obtained
from Stevens as reported by Hitlers
newspaper, Voelkischet Beobachter,
was that Waldemar Poetzsch, had
sabotaged the IS ships including the
German Hestia, Norderney and Fer
onia, the latter Of which suffered an
explosion in the Kiel Canal June ~,
1888; also the italian ship Felice.
Identical Bombs
Identical bombs destroyed these
ships "lenz apparatus" putting their
pumps out Of commission, the news
paper said. Suspicion was pointed at
Britain because no British ships
were suffering these sabotage acts,
and q German secret policeman
finally wormed his way into the
British espionage service In q neu-
trail country in 1888, posing as a
"middleman" for the British, and
learned the source Of the plot, the
newspaper said.
He (the German spy was able
through several coups at various
times to participate in conferences
with responsible agents Of the Brit
ish Secret Service, said Voelkischer
Beobachter. Names were men
toned on these occasions which
later filled In gaps Of the evidence.
In this connection, Captain Stevens
testimony has given us data Of UNI
estimable value"
Taken In Neutral Country
Poetzsch, according to the news
paper, was arrested In an unnamed
neutral country, at Germany,s re-
quest, and although he had q sketch
Of large German vessel in his
possession showing vulnerable places
marked for sabotage, this neutral
country released him at Captain
Stevens request, made through the
British Intelligence office in Lon
don. Later, however, Poetzsch was
arrested again, this time In Dem
mark, and Is now In prison there.
Summing up the situation, the
newspaper said: agent Poetzsch,
Agent Strasser, lotto, head Of the
German Black Front, charged with
being the go-between In the Mu-
Mich bombing) Agent Elser, time
bombs on German ships and the
outrage at Munich are part Of the
same dastardly system"
Britain Gives Her Side
London, November "a. - (UP) -
Authoritative sources said today that
Captain Richard H. Stevens and
Sigismund p. Best, agents Of the
British Intelligence Service i'm
prisoned In Berlin, had gone To
Venlo. Holland, to receive peace
proposals repeatedly emanating from
high German officers, when they
were arrested.
British news agencies reported
that Holland had issued a SEMI
official statement confirming that
Stevens and best had been con-
Quoting peace negotiations.
Dutch officials at Amsterdam
denied that any such semi ficial
statement had been made)
A British source said Stevens and
Best acted merely as "postmen,
conveying German proposals 10
British authorities and were kid.
mapped from Venlo when they went
near the German frontier 10 receive
further German peace proposals.
Had Been Invited
The Daily Mail said that Stevens
and Best acted with the knowledge
OF the British government and had
been In communication with high
German officials for some time
They received an invitation Novem.
Der 8 to 60 10 Venlo TO meet q Ger.
man envoy, the newspaper said, sug.
costing that the meeting may have
been trap, or a proposal may have
come from private quarters without
the knowledge OF the German gov.
eminent and that when the Costa.
po - German secret police - dis.
covered 1t, they acted swiftly. TIL,
newspaper said British source.
doubted Stevens and Best were still
alive.
| 1t was recalled, In connection witt
bthe newspapers mention OF a trap
that German communique last
Tuesday announcing the arrest oil
Stevens and Best In connection witt
the Munich bombing. asserted tina,
German counter-espionage agents
posing as revolutionary army Off.
GERS willing to negotiate peace witt
Britain. had contacted British spie.
and even had received q radio send.
Ing and receiving set with which
they communicated with the British
Secret Service headquarters In Lon.
don, learning all the British plans