Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-22
By JAN VALTM

consulate had a political spy
attached 10 II.
One of the two was seized
by the GPU in Vienna, where
he had played the role of an
aHti-Faseist effieer-of-th the
Milan garrison. He had de-
sCribed himself as fugitive
from the Ovra. and a member
of the outlawed Communist
Party of Italy. His real job
WAS 10 spy on the transports
OF Communist propaganda,
printed in Vienna and in the
Italian anguage, being
smuggled across the Alpine
frontier to Italy.
HI. was paid 1000 liras for
eachS seizure OF such
clandestine transport. He
arrived i'm Hamburg in GPU
custody, more dead than alive.
and was shipped TO Leningrad
aboard the AleXey Rykov.
VOLUNTEER WORKER
The second victim was an
Italian spy attached 10 the
consulate in Hamburg. He APP
peared in my Office about May
20, 1882, posing as a Com
munist who had broken out
of a jail in Turin. He car
ricd newspaper clippings TO
prove his story, and vofun-
teered 10 work in the Italian
section of the International
Club in Hamburg. which was
very active at the time.
Supplied with a special SUBJ
sidy. ii published a news
paper and pamphlets which
were struggled into Italy
aboard Italian ships. Among
the Italian vessels trading
with North European ports
there was not one which did
not have a Communist cell
among its crew.
The spy's task was TO ferret
out the names of these con-
tact men. so that the Ovra
could arrest them when they
arrived in Italian ports.
l did not suspect the new
conner of being spy. He
made a good impression and
talked like a trained Com
munist. In an international
shipping center like Hamburg
political refugees arrived al
most every day, some along
the highways, others as stow
-aWays.
When I notified the Party's
espionage defense Apparat TO
investigate the record of the
new arrival. l merely adj
hered to our accepted routine.
Every newcomer who could
not produce official Party
credentials was kept under
surveillance until we were
convinced of his trustworthi-
ness. 1t was purely measure
OF self-preservation.
BETRAYED HIMSELF
The Italian was assigned TO
quarters with family Of
Party members. When he
went into the harbor, he was
Swallowed by our vigilantes.
A girl from the Young
Communist League was as
signed to cultivate his friend
ship. / took care not TO
assign him to Italian ships.
He spoke French, and was de-
tailed for a test period TO the
French section.
The Italians name was
Giacomo Bianchi. At first he
displayed none Of the faults
and mistakes committed by
the run of spies. No COM
promising material was hid
den in his room. He alb
stained from asking questions
not pertaining TO his allotted
duties. He spent no more
money than his meager weekly
allowance paid by the French
section. He received no mail
and wrote no letters.
Nevertheless, he betrayed
himself. | was about TO call
off his surveillance and &C
cept him as a reliable member
of our circle. when Hugo
Marx appeared like a ghost
and whispered:
Better be careful
"Have you found anything ?"
/ asked.
Marx nodded. The night
before, a crew of Italian
sailors had attended one of the
political dances at the Inter-
national Club. Giacom 20
Bianchi had also been there,
talking 10 French seamen.
The Italians had been treated
with beer by a group of
Russians and had enjoyed
themselves hugely. But by
no gesture or word had
Giacono betrayed that he was
aware of the presence of his
anti-Fascists compatriots.
TRAPPED BY GIRL
This Is suspicious" Hugo
Marx whispered. "GiacomO
IL a spy. Were he not a spy,
he would have talked with his