Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-07
Unfr0Cked
APrieSt 10 Nab
AJapSpy
NN/HILE American troops battle abroad Uncle San
w is waging a relentless if obscure war on the home


front-a grim fight to smash espionage and
fifth column operations within the United states 1t Il
behind the-scenes which hear little about
which finds crack and intelligence officers
federal agents ptted against the crafty spies Germany
Japan. and Italy
OF this deadly counter-espionage fight never
reaches the papers except occasional report
roundup of enemy aliens the beginning spy
Behind these brief paragraphs however there
OF brilliant detective work To throw the publicity
light on these American agents would defeat the very
purpose OF their work
Fighting fifth coumnists and spies probably the
most difficult of all military assignments. Uncle Sam
first has to find his quarry he can come
to grips with him. Enemy agents who know
heaviest OF penalties their capture every trick
in the book TO ferret out American armament secrets,
and still cover up their dasardly operations.
Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents usually
tghtpped about their undercover operations recently
told how they smashed gigantic japanese fifth column
ring in California tale that
ing the American public just how will 60
IN their attempts 10 learn vital military secrets
The headquarters of this undercover ring a Buddhist
temple at Salinas Three Japs posing as priests were
taken in custody the Found within the harm
less looking temple goodly supply Of guns binoculars
cameras ammunition, and other contraband
The ringleader Reverend" Koyo Tamanaha
the Mikado's best Judo wresters who been a
former police official in Japan. Tamanaha had 10
the United States and taken up his priesy job
Salinas temple only few months before entry
into the
When he picked up the fake priest denied any
loyalty to Emperor Hirohito and told
stories which the interpreter officer wel-versed
Finally the slant-eyed fifth coumnst broke down. But
what he told federal agents remains a secret
In his priesy vestments Tamanaha looked like weak
unassumng religious interest was admin.
stering TO the sick and the faithful followers his
Asiatc religion But when Omen stripped him they
beneath his robes powerfully built who turned
to be Of the best Judo wrestlers in the country
Tamanaha apparently had been the United
States to organize and train Japanese fifth coumnss
the crafty art of Judoa form of wrestling which
signed for persons small stature against larger
adversares.
the hours he posed priest, Tamanaha meeting
followers Japanese homes and in the back rooms
japanese restaurants teaching them the tricks they
have TO know when they got orders strike from within
The Omen had been Tamanahas trail from practi-
cay the moment he set foot in the United States until
his They had refrained from taking him
into custody until he had unwittingly led them to the
other members of his gang seven months later.
Then morning 55 FIJI agents aided by SO state
local police sauntered through the Japanese and Fill
pino section of Salinas The historic japanese Bonshu bell
of the Buddhist temple bongng in the clear morning
little black matched Nipponese tots scamper
ing playfuy around the pagodas as the police officers
surrounded the temple
At given signal agents into action. All had
special assignments entered restaurants stores
homes other quickly stepped into the temple Within
seconds every member of the ring in custody Just
how many were arrested remains a secret-hut of
largest fifth column rings operating adjacent to several
military establishments, was completely smashed
Today Reverend Tamanaha his two assistant priests
and his entire slanteyed agents in intern
camp and FBI under Nat j. L. Peper director
Francisco have chaked another victory in their
against Pacific Coast fifth columnsts and saboeurs
The Salinas case is only example of how Uncle
Sam is waging his undercover There have been
scores similar roundups the last few months Every
time a new bunch taken into custody danger
to the American effort has been removed.
The recent spy in New York City have clearly
shown thoroughness with which FBI men and intel
igence Officers have enemy agentseven having
their pose spies to trick the real agents into
revealing their and contacts For almost four
months the operated Long Island shortwave radio
station daily accepting espionage instructions from Ger
many and in turn sending false military reports to the
D.trk