Evening star., 1942-07-10
By JAMES E. CHINN.

Two Brief Announcements.
The secrecy was first relaxed a
little late yesterday when two brief
official communicates we're issued to
show the progress of the proceed
which merely an
nounced the trial had started and
that seven witnesses had testified
for the Government.
The Government, 1t was said,
hopes to rest It's case against the
eight Nazis tomorrow Many prose-
cution witnesses, however, are yet
to be heard.
At least two days are expected to
be taken by the defense, which in
dicates that the trial, which started
Wednesday, may not end before
Tuesday.
Nearly IS minutes earlier than
usual the eight Nazis arrived at the
Tenth street gate of the Justice De-
partment this morning for the third
day of the trial in the two prison
vans that have taken them to and
from the District Jail The vans
were conveyed as usual by a large
detail Of motor cycle policemen and
Army scout cars loaded with soldiers
and machine guns.
The early arrival is believed to
have been arranged as another at
tempt to escape newspaper photog-
raphers.
Take Recess for Lunch.
The commission recessed its morn
ing session at 1910 pm. for lunch.
First to emerge from the court
room were about 20 FBI agents,
some of whom, it is understood.
tracked down and arrested the NaA
agents. Following them came At
torney General Biddle and FBI
Director J. Edgar Hoover.
The officials would say nothing
about the proceedings. Mr.. Biddle
appeared to be in particularly good
spirits and walking from the court
room to his Office he tickled the chin
of a newspaperwoman
The trial commission has been
given a sketchy outline Of the nc
tion-like story of the saboteurs'
threat to the United States. But more
specific information Is required by
the Army officers, whose duty 1t Is to
decide whether the eight men shall
60 to their death before a firing
squad.
Largely through the instrument
tality of Elmer Davis, head of the
new Office of War Information, Maj.
Gen. Frank R. Mccoy, president OF
the trial commission broke his long
silence late yesterday to give two
brief mimeographed statements on
the progress of the trial They were
released through Mr.. Davis owl.
Announcements Brief.
The first said the trial had started
and emphasized that it would con-
tinue to be conducted in strict
secrecy. The second gave a little
more information-it disclosed that
after two days the Trial Com
mission had taken the testimony Of
only seven of about 40 witnesses.
The initial communique also en-
phasized that Gen. Mccoy only
would make the official statements,
and the second declared that any
one present in the courtroom-ex-
cept the eight prisoners-who re-
vealed anything about the proceed
ings would be punishable for con-
tempt unless authorized to speak.
1t took a determined effort by Mr..
Davis and conference among
President Roosevelt, Secretary Of
War Stimson and Mr.. Davis to
wrench that much loose.
The approved plan, it was said
calls on Gen. Mccoy to produce a
statement at the close of the trial
each day, containing brief sum-
mary of the outstanding develop
ments.
FBI Agents Arrive Early.
Eleven of the FBI agents who
rounded up the eight Nazis after
their submarine excursion to the
Florida and New York Coasts last
month, marched into the irnprovised
courtroom in the Justice Depart
ment Building yesterday. -Four
coast guardsmen-two of whom had
testified previously-also were pres
ent.
There were indications that the case
being unfolded by the prosecution
might have reached the stage of tell
ing the story of the chase and cap
ture of the German-born prisoners
who were trained In sabotage at
Berlin. This could only be conjec-
tured, however, since the official
information lacked such detail.
The commission, it was said, Is
still waiting to hear the full story
of coast guardsman who first dis
covered four of the Nazi agents
shortly after they landed from q
submarine near Amagansett, Lons
Island, on the morning of June l3
Threatened With Gun.
The coast guardsmen, patrolint
the lonely beach. 1t Is reliably re-
ported, discovered one OF the sabo'
teurs and while engaged in conver
sation with him was approached b.
the three others. With a gui
pointed at him by one OF the Nazi
the coast guardsman is said t.
; have agreed not to say anything
(see sABOTEURs, Page A-43