Evening star., 1942-07-09
Saboteur Trial
Secrecy May
Relax Today
White House PorIey
Held and Justice Unit
Statement Indicted
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


The veil OF secrecy which has
surrounded the Army commits
sion trial of the eight Nazi sabo-
teurs who we're landed by
U-boats on the Atlantic Coast
last month may be lifted today
as a result of developments at
the White House and the Justice
Department and the new Office
Of War Information.
Elmer Davis, head of the owl,
conferred this morning with Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Of
War Stimson, presumably over de-
mands for disclosure to the public
of at least some of the developments
at the trial.
On leaving the White House Mr..
Davis said Everything will come
from the commissioner anything
comes" and refused to elaborate.
Asked Who won the fight?" Mr..
Davis replied, There was no dissen-
sion"
Secretary Stimson, who left the
White House few minutes before
Mr.. Davis, declined any comment.
Attache Hopes for Statement.
Meanwhile, Henry Paynter, an
attache of Mr.. Davis ONCE, had
been sent to the Justice Depart
ment and told to "sit tight" He
spent some time comforting with
Justice Department officials and
said he was hopeful that an ofiicial
statement summarizing the pro-
ceedings thus far may be issued
later in the day
One Of the suggestions said TO be
under consideration is that news
papers be given a censored tram
script of the testimony each day.
Sucn q plan would prevent any leak
Of military information.
| AS the trial went into its second
day, the moose of secrecy which has
marked the proceedings was drawn
strand tighter.
Members Of the special military
trial commission, composed Of seven
Army generals, as well as Justice
Department officials. continued to
maintain a tight-lpped silence.
Even witnesses, who were allowed
yesterday to roam at will in the
corridors of the fifth floor Of the
Justice Building, where the history
making trial is being held, were kept
under cover.
FBI Agents Heard.
It was learned, however, that the
principal witnesses before the trial
commission this morning included
FBI agents who tracked down and
arrested the eight saboteurs.
Before the agents testified. q
small truck loaded with FBI docu-
ments was wheeled into the barri-
caded and heavily guarded court
room.
The Trial Commission recessed for
lunch at 12:40 pm, the same time
as at the initial hearing yesterday.
FBI Chieftain j. Edgar Hoover was
first to emerge from the courtroom.
He smiled as newspapermen sur
rounded him and with wave OF his
hand said, See Mr.. Biddle." p.
Several minutes later Attorney
General Biddle came from the court
chambers, trailed by the seven Army
generals who make up the Trial
Commission and the Army officers
who constitute both the prosecution
and defense stats.
Smiling BiddIe Won't Talk.
Mr.. Biddle likewise was smiling
when stopped by reporters. "Of
course, have nothing to say" he
said. =
The trial was to be resumed at :
o'clock. -
The trial, which began yesterday,
was resumed at 10 o'clock this morn
ing with indications 1t would con-
tinue through the remainder Of the
week. At least 40 witnesses are yet
to face the commission. ..
| Obviously in an attempt to evade
newspapermen, photographers and
spectators, the convoy of soldiers
and policemen for the two closed
prison vans which transport the
eight Nazi saboteurs and their
guards to and from the District
Jail entered the Justice Depart
ment court yard this morning
through the Tenth street gates.
Yesterday, the caravan used the
Ninth street entrance.
One of the Army field cars in
the convoy loaded with soldiers
and machine guns developed engine
trouble en- route to the Justice De-
partment and was forced to stop
at Seventh street and Constitution
avenue. After a slight delay. the
caravan moved on to the Justice
Department without the disabled.
Army car and its machine gun
| crew.
Coast Guardsmen Heard.
The wall of wartime military
secrecy built around the proceedings
has resulted in a wave of rumors
and speculation. 1t was learned,
however, that the principal witnesses
at the initial hearing were four
coast guardsmen. two of whom are
said to have first discovered the sub
marine landing of the would-be