Evening star., 1940-01-17
British Act TO Nip
Sabotage Plot
Against Railways
600, 900 Workers Ordered
On Alert; Post Sought
For Hore-BeIisho

~ 'S'S SSssS"S
! By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Jan. 17.-Great Brit
aims 100000 railway workers were
reported ordered on the alert today
for acts of sabotage against the ma
tion's lines.
The vast "detective' system was
understood to have been set up as
the Daily Mail and Daily Herald re-
ported that plot by the German
intelligence service to cripple the
nations railway network had been
discovered.
The Daily Mail said the plot was
aimed at public works and bridges,
No arrests have been announced.
The newspaper declared the con-
splracy had been discovered only
few days ago and that counter
measures" were expected to be put
into effect shortly.
Economic War Success Claimed.
r. H. Cross, minister of economic
warfare, declared that Britains
financial and trade war against
Germany in the past four and one
half months had placed the Nazi
regime in the same economic posi-
ton as the Kaisers empire after
two years of the World War.
Our economic attack came into
operation with rapidity and sud-
denness which was not anticipated
and it has given Germany economy
sharp shock" Mr.. Cross told the
House of Commons.
I'VE look forward to the day
when we shall have strangled Ger
many's economic life so that she
can no longer sustain her war eff
fort he said.
I'VE believe we can bring very
much nearer the day of victory and
in so doing we shall have played
a great part in saving the lives of
our people" Mr.. Cross added.
In the House of Lords, Viscount
Cecil of Chelwood urged that the
minister directing the economic as
poets of the war be given cabinet
ranking, which Mr.. Cross does not
have.
Post Sought for Hore- Belisha.
Meanwhile, the government was
believed to be taking steps to find a
place for Leslie Hore-Belisha in the
war cabinet.
move to set up ministry CO.
ordinating all Britain's economic war
efforts with Mr.. Hore- -Belisha as it's
head gained momentum as echoes of
his public hearing" in Parliament
over dismissal as var minister died
away.
The proposed ministry, it was ex-
planned, would have broader scope
than the present ministry of eco
nomlc warfare headed by Mr.. Cross.
The present ministrys tasks are con-
fined principally to contraband con-
troll.
The government press termed
the Hore-Belisha resignation a
closed incident" while critical
newspapers expressed disappoint-
ment that statements by Mr.. Hore-
Bellsha and Prime Minister Cham
berlain in the House of Commons
yesterday failed to disclose specific
reasons for the change.
May Be Economic Minister.
Mr.. Chamberlain's statements that
1t may not be long" before Mr.. Hore-
Belisha may serve in another posi-
ton added to speculation that he
might become the economic min
lister.
Also revived was talk of the ap-
polntment of a defense minister in |
charge of the entire army, navy and |
air force. First Lord of the Ad-
Winston Churchill has been
mentioned for the post.
The Times, which often voices
government policy, commented:
Two years ago the need for Sc
curing the most complete co-ordi-
nation of the means of defense by
sea, land and air was uppermost in
the public mind. No one would
claim on the whole that the work
has yet been accomplished"
Query on Unity Planned.
Members of Parliament disclosed |
that Prime Minister Chamberlains
government would be questioned in
the House of Commons next Tuesday
about spectacular arrangements sur
rounding the arrival of Unity Nit
ford-Freeman from Germany Janu-
ary 3.
The blond British girl, daughter
of Lord Redesdale and a friend of
Adolf Hitler landed at Folkstone
suffering from a mysterious ailment
and was WhjSked awov IL, on opob,,