Evening star., 1941-03-06
Spying for England
Laid 10 18 Dutchmen
Ordered Executed
Plot TO Aid British Army
In an Invasion end Acts
OF Terrorism Charged
NJ the Associated Press.

7 NJ the Associated Press.
AMSTERDAM (Via Berlin) March
e.-The president of the German
military court which condemned Is
Netherlanders to death told the
Dutch people today that every one
who, even in thought, plots against
the German Army is playing with
his life.
He disclosed that sabotage cases
are awaiting German court-martial
proceedings. Most of those already
sentenced to death were charged
with spying for England and plotting
TO cooperate with the British Army
In the event of an invasion.
The trial which resulted in the
convictions Tuesday revealed that a
secret Dutch organization had been
active from May until December,
1910, especially in the Dutch region
nearest the English coast across the
Channel.
German authorities, the court
president asserted, regretted that
several German soldiers had been
pushed into the water and drowned
or fallen victim of snipers as q
result of the Dutch underground
organization.
Pamphlets I'm Invisible Ink.
The hearing developed a declara-
ton that the plotters circulated
pamphlets written in invisible ink
advocating acts of cruelty against
German soldiers. The prosecutor
also said he was shocked on hearing
OF a plan to poison NaZi troopers
with acids.
In all, there were 43 defendants.
Six were acquitted. The other 10
who escaped the death penalty were
imprisoned for various terms. Ver-
diets were handed down Tuesday.
Defense attorneys have a chance
to appeal for mercy and it was not
indicated when the executions, by
shooting, would take place If such
appeals are denied.
One defendant was sentenced to
death four times and, in addition,
got a 10-year prison term. Another
was sentenced to death three times.
Most of those who got only one
death penalty also were sentenced
to Imprisonment.
There is no death penalty under
Netherlands law. 1t was introduced
by German occupation authorities.
So far one man has been executed.
Extensive Secret Society.
Witnesses in the five-day court
martial session described an extern
sive but loosely organized conspiracy
which was fostered by a secret So
ciety known as the "GeuZen." That
Is the name by which the Dutch
soldier was known in the 80-year-
war against Spain.
The conspirators, 1t was charged,
were prepared for any sort Of ter
rorism, some directed at German
troops. Officers said they found
stores of dynamite, arms and poison.
Some of the accused even spoke of
q molten cocktail" Moffen is COL
loQuial Dutch name for Germans
and the molten cocktail allegedly
was mixture of poison to have been
administered in various forms.
Leader Apparently Escaped.
Some defendants apparently were
vague as to the nature and purpose
of the secret society. They said they
did not know their superiors and
their supreme leader apparently
escaped German investigators.
Other testimony indicated that
some were giving signals to British
airmen and conspired against the
safety of German troops.
The organization apparently had
few, If any. Dutch soldiers among
Its members, but there was semi
military organization. The leader,
who escaped, said to be a 43-year-
old Netherlander, was known as
"Col. Verdun."
There was mysterious setup Of
passwords, ceremonies and forms of
recognition.
Prosecutors said the dynamiting
division had for its task the blowing
up of bridges. Another division was
charged with spying on all activities
of the German Army.
The defendants, from all parts of
Holland, included one teacher and
several shipyard workers.
Contrary to usual practice, Dutch
newspapermen were allowed to at
tend the trial to convince them
selves of the fairness Of the proceed
ings."