Evening star., 1941-10-12
Attempt to Set Up
Weather Radio
Is Thworted
e. the Associated Press.

Blocking of bold Nazi at
tempt to establish a radio sta
ton on AmeriCan-protected
Greenland for dispatch of
weather and other information
OF military Importance was re-
ported yesterday by the Navy.
A "German-sponsored expedition"
of about 20 persons and a small
Norwegian steamer were seized by
a United States naval vessel. and
at the same time radio equipment
and other supplies ashore were dis
posed of" the Navy announced.
An agent of the German Gestapo
and two other NorwegianS' were
ashore to operate the radio, said
brief statement of the incident.
The ship-the first seized by the
United States since the war started,
aside from German, Italian and
other vessels requisitioned in United
States ports-was reported en- route
now to this country for further
examination. along with the cap
tured eXpeGltl0n members.
Navy's Account.
The Navy'S account of the Incl
dent:
While on its regular patrol in
Greenland waters during Septem-
ber a United States naval vessel en-
countered and inspected a small
Norwegian steamer of about 60 tons
Examination of the personnel on
board revealed that the vessel and
her company of about 20 had been
dispatched to Greenland under the
auspices of the Nazi authorities in
Norway to establish a radio station
from which were to be sent to the
German authorities weather reports
and other military information.
"A search of the Greenland coast
brought to light radio station
manned by an agent of the German
GeStapo and two other NorWegianS.
all of whom had been disembarked
from the Norwegian vessel previous
to her discovery by the United
States naval craft.
All the radio equipment and sup
plies established ashore by this Ger
man sponsored expedition have been
disposed of and the personnel evacu-
ated from Greenland by the United
States naval vessel.
The vessel and her personnel are
now being brought to a United
States port for further examina-
ton"
First Successful Naval Action.
SO far as has been disclosed, the
incident represented the first sue
cessful direct action by the Navy
against Nazi activities in the North
Atlantic, although the destroyer
Greer and German submarine
engaged in shooting incident early
in September. The submarine fired
torpedoes wide of the destroyer
which, in turn, dropped depth bombs.
Berlin reports said the submarine
was not damaged.
The Norwegian nationality of the
seized craft appeared likely to fig
ure Importantly in any international
repercussions from the newest in
Cident.
The United States does not rec
ognlze the current Nazi-doninated
regime in Norway and hence would
not entertain any protest it might
make through a third party.
Another complicating factor from
the standpoint of international re-
lations is the fact that the Co.
penhagen government refused to
recognize and declared invalid the
agreement of last April 9 between
the Danish Minister and the United
States providing for American pro-
lection of the great island and for
establishment there of American
defense bases.
Nazis Interested in Greenland.
Germany has evinced keen in |
terest repeatedly in Greenland, be-
cause Of its strategic location near
the North Atlantic ship lanes be-
tween the United States and the !
British Isles and its importance in |
forecaSting weather in Europe.
The State Department has report
ed that German bomber flew over
the island on March 27 and another |
leconnoltered the following DAY.
Three ships from occupied Nor
way, some 1880 miles to the east, |
arrived off the Greenland coast in |
the summer of 1910, and at least |
one, the department said, landed |
parties "nominally for scientific |
purposes, but actually for meteoro-
logical assistance to German bellig-
erent occupations in the North At
lantic."
These parties were eventually |
cleared out" it was said without
further explanation.
The Navy has had much of Green
land under close aerial and sea OBJ
servation since alst April.
Food, fuel and other stores for pa
trolling aircraft and surface ships
have been built up, but there has
(See GREENLAND, Page A-5.)