Evening star., 1941-12-12
Congress Is Warned
OF Sabotage Danger;
F, B. |. Calls Alumni
Rear Admiral Woesche
Urges Speedy Approval
Of Huge Defense Fund

vi huge DeIeHSe Iuhu
Enemy agents may start an epi-
demic of fires and explosions in vital
defense centers ''at any time" the
Senate was warned today.
Rear Admiral Richard R. WaeSche,
who commanded the Coast Guard
until it became part of the Navy de-
livered the warning in testimony
that accompanied an urgent request
by the Senate Finance Committee
for speedy approval of $4,000, ,000,-
600 war appropriation bill.
The measure contains funds for
adding $500 men to the Coast Guard
to help prevent repetition of the
multi million dollar havoc caused in
the first World War by the sabotag-
ing of munitions plants and harbor
facilities.
F. b. I. Calls alumni"
Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau
of Investigation called to duty its
reserve man power-the alumni" of
the F. B. rs National Police Acad-
envy and former special agents of the
bureau itself-to speed up the under
cover offensive against spies and
saboteurs.
Federal agents and police worked
together in Boston to seize radio
transmitting set, located only half a
mile from the command post of the
Boston Harbor defenses, and a large
store of firearms. The seizure last
night accompanied separate arrests
for questioning of an alien and a
naturalized citizen who had been
under surveillance.
Twenty shotguns and rifles and Is
revolvers were found in the North
End locksmith shop of an Italian
alien. the Associated Press quoted
Boston police as saying. The radio
set was said to have been found in a
cellar one-half mile from Fort
Banks.
Egyptologist Is Arrested.
The arrest at Philadelphia of DR.
Hermann Ranke, regarded as one of
the worlds foremost Egyptoiogists,
also was disclosed last night. He was
taken into custody as an alien and
detained at the immigration station
at Gloucester, N. J. DR.. Ranke
came from the University of Hell
delberg in Germany in 1898 to be
visiting professor of Egyptology at
the University of Pennsylvania.
Attorney General Francis Biddle
announced here that arrangements
are being made for hearings to de-
terrnine disposition of the cases of
hundreds of aliens rounded up by
the F. B. I. Civilian boards will aid
United States attorneys in conduct
ing the hearings, with final decision
in each case resting with the Attor-
nev General. Only those will be in
termed for the duration of the war
whose confinement is regarded "as
necessary to the peace and safety OF
the country" Mr.. Biddle said.
Pending the hearings, aliens IN
custody may confer at their place
of confinement with their attorneys
or members of their families or
friends under proper safeguards"
the Attorney General ruled. Visits
by the press, photographers and the
general public are specifically pro-
hibited, however.
Lists Are Withheld.
Members of the families Of aliens
In custody may ascertain their
whereabouts through the Justice
Department, but no general lists OF
names of those being held will be
made public for the present.
Letters sent or received by aliens
In custody will be subject to censor
ship by supervisory officials, it was
said. All mail service from the
United State; and its possessions to
Germany and Italy and all points
under control was suspended by
the Post Office Department.
Admiral Waesche's warning OF
sabotage attempts was based on an
assertion that enemy saboteurs
would get their green light to go
ahead just as soon as the Rome
Berlin ends of the Axis formally
declared war on the United States
which came yesterday just after his
testimony.
The signal had been delayed here
tofore, he said, because the AXIS
feared widespread sabotage would
"help unite this country and speed
up our defense effort to all-out pro-
portions"
Says Plans Are Laid.
Admiral Waesche said there was
no doubt that up to the Axis dec
larations OF war, Germany, Italy and
Japan had "subversive activities in
this country which they had not
given the green light to go ahead"
The Coast Guard, which as part
of the Navy is responsible for the
security of harbors. docks and ternli'
nails. has items totaling more thar
s18,000,000 in the big appropriation
bill.
Many former F. B. I. agents, Out
of scores who volunteered within E
few hours of the attack on Hawaii
are being reinducted into the bu'
reau. officials said a heavy re-
Spouse from alumni" was expected
to Yesterdays mobilization appeal BY
F. B. I. Director j. Edgar Hoover.
Return for Retraining.
The National Police Academy
founded by Mr. Hoover in 1885, of
fers three months of training to mel
from organized law enforcement
agencies. Each year the graduate
return for a week Of retraining il
the latest techniques. Thus, thos
being called into service-and tn
call has been limited to those VIII
1t is believed can be spared from
their positions-need only brle
reintroduction before joining the F
B. I. ranks.
The bureau had around ESQ
agents when war came. Using it
reserves should send that total Il
around 5000 quickly, particularly
with new agents being trained ant
put into service at a rate OF about 2
a week.
Ban on Japs Relaxed.
The Treasury Department. mean