Evening star., 1940-07-21
THE SAB0TEUR AT WORK

sabotage threatens this production, and the
steps that can be taken defensively to meet
these attacks The objective of saboteur is to
break the continuity of the supply of neces-
sary emergency or war materials. The expert
saboteur discerns, usually through employ
ment in key plant the particular buildings
or the exact machinery vitally necessary to
the continuance of production. Then ne tries
to halt or to slow down that production.
The following incidents that have actually
occurred in some of our industrial plants show
how the saboteur works, and emphasize the
threat he holds for u.s.
Nails have been driven through cables
causing short circuits; tools have been placed
on ledges over generators so that vibration
would cause them to fall into spinning gears;
pieces of bent wire have been placed over the
terminals of a switchboard metal rods have
been placed in generators: wiring has been
changed 50 that meters and gauges did not
accurately reflect the working condition OF
certain machinery; bricks have been lodged
in trouphs which carried off molten steel, thus
causing an overflow.
To meet these threats experienced FBl
Special Agents are sent to survey plants and
to give defensive suggestions. These Special
Agents are as we'll equipped, perhaps better
qualified than the saboteur, to discern these
vulnerable points of possible attack. They
often can tell at a glance the points that are
not sufficiently protected. They may recon-
mend additional guards. or additional flood
lights. They may recommend twenty -four
hour guard service where none exists.
Identity Bodses
! HEY may suggest that steps be taken to
see that any visitors entering the plant are
carefully scrutinzed upon entry their iden-
tty fully established; that they are required
to wear distinctively marked badges while in
the plant; that the time of their entry be reg
istered; that they be escorted to the plant
official with whom they claim to have busi-
ness; that they be escorted to the gate upon
exit. and that the time of their exit be duly
registered and the badge taken from them.
They will suggest that no individual en-
ployees in positions of trust - and partlcu-
larlv no employees who are members of the
police forces of these plants - should be con-
tinued in such employment unless their per-
sonal histories have been thoroughly nvestl-
gated to determine their reliability and their
immunity to enemy solicitation or corruption.
Since the saboteur seeks to make his acts
appear to be accidents, we emphasize that
no fires of mysterious origin should go unin-
vestigated. And because saboteurs are always
seeking to learn how they can do the most
damage, workers in positions of trust are
urged to show their patriotism by refusing to
disclose - to anyone - the confidential ma
ture of their duties.
Fortunately, sabotage has been circum-
vented to great extent during the present
emerqency vet it cannot be denied that sew
eral serious plots have been averted only by
the prompt action that has been taken.
There was the case of the skilled employee
in an airplane factory who stole secret plans
of a new bomber from the plant. Fortunately,
we got them back and sent the thief to prison.
And here is another case of different type
that occurred recently One day when work
man returned from lunch he found emery
dust in the mechanism upon which he was
working. This mechanism was designed to
steer highly precise implement of war