Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-02
u. S. Ge++inq
To Bottom Of
Spy Activity
Fine is German Agents
Are Well Organized
By PAUL MALLON

for some time the existence of
an elaborate German spy system
reporting TO Berlin speedily and
efficiently on American ships.
The system is working in such
an open field and was organized
with such usual German thor
oughness that it has been found
difficult 10 smash.
The F'BI raided the German
seamen's home in Hoboken last
Saturday and found again how
some news was being sent out.
What was described as "dia-
thermy machine" was seized,
along with II inmates.
THIS is a piece OF common
Il electrical apparatus. capable
of creating high frequency oscil-
lations. which could be heard as
far away as Germany if proper
reception, through a similar set,
had been provided there, as it
no doubt has.
The apparatus, which can
make ineligible short wave
vibrations, under expert hand
ling. has been sold commercially
throughout the country for
therapeutic treatment of skin
tissues by heat. You could buy
them anywhere.
A number of Japs on the Pa
cific Coast seem to have suffered
the same rash as the Nazi sea-
men. These machines were first
discovered in their homes.
QUT the problem would be diff
~ ficult to meet. even if there
were not so many of these ma
chimes in private hands. The
maritime commission here OPP
crates our ships, but the pri-
vate companies and the hiring
halls employ the seamen. The
government therefore has no
control over who is to be en-
ployed.
Before sailor will sign for a
voyage, naturally he must know
when and where the ship is
going and a good idea of the
nature of its cargo. With such
information freely given on the
water front. it is not much of a
job for a prepared Nazi agent
to pick it With his special
sending device. it has not been
much Of a trick to get his infor-
nation out Of the country.
CERTAINLY Berlin has been
~ theoretically gloating over
its communications system from
this country. Our short wave
listeners have noticed that do
nestle news developments, not
sent out of this country by any
of the normal commercial COM
munications avenues. have come
back within two or three hours
from the Berlin radio on &C.
casions.
That this system will not last
long can be expected from the
knowledge of its workings al
ready obtained mot half of which
is set forth here). But some
closer government supervision
OF hiring seamen, probably
through the maritime commits
sion, II not naval intelligence or
the FBI, is apparently in order
as the next step.
Meanwhile, il is evident those
posters around the waterfront,
Don't talk, it may cost lives"
are not stressing the case too
strongly, or even enough. Too
much talking in those spots
could mean defeat for our
Allies.
GONE published accounts claim
~ our sinkings are two ships a
day, counting foreign and coast
wise The official figure has
Appropriated that recently.
From the start of the war 10
March 30 we had lost Sc ships.
sunk or damaged an average of
much less than one a day, al
though the rate has doubled the
last few weeks, since the Nazi
sub campaign blossomed out
fully.
This is more than we are put
ting into service daily as re-
placements. The launching fig
ures now are running nearly two
day, but this does not mean
we are yet getting that many
into commission every "a hours.
BY the end of the year, we will
be.
As matters stand now, we are
losing in the battle of commerce
on the high seas, but the situa-
ton should be reversed within a
year, even If the accelerated rate
OF NaZi sinkings continues.
Whether we have been forced
to convoy is yet a military
secret.
MOT all the ships that have
~ gone down have been tor.
pedoed. One large tanker rar
into one of our own m ! n s
thereby creating quite a stir ir
official navigation circles.
To escape gale off Hatteras
the tanker decided suddenly &c
seek port. Without specia
pilot, IT strayed into the mine
fields and the front half of the
ship was blown off.
Official accounts have LISTED
the damage as due either TO .
! torrodo or a rnine hut etihSe