Evening star., 1942-07-27

Reporters Receive
Hint Of Sensational
Developments
Last of the eight German sa-
boteurs on trial for their lives
took the witness stand In his own
defense today as the trial en-
tered its 18th day.
Seven Of the eight enemy agents
already had preceded him on the
witness stand,
Disclosure that the last witness
had taken the witness stand was
made in . communicate issued BY
the military commission trying the
sabOteurs when 1t adjourned for q
luncheon recess.
The official statement, shortest yet
issued by the commission. said:
The commission reconvened at 10
am. The session was devoted to
the examination Of the last OF the
defendants. The noon recess was
taken at 1895 pm"
Identity Not Disclosed.
Indications were given, mean
while, that there would be some
sensational Developments before
the trial ends. What these antici-
pated Developments might be were
guarded ~ secretly as the detailed
proceedings In the trial chamber.
Newspapermen covering the trial
were advised, however. to keep on
the alert.
Thus far seven Of the German
agents, according to communicates
issued by the commi6sion, have
taken the witness stand In their
own behalf.
Meanwhile, there were uncon-
firmed rumors that Federal authori-
ties are checking reports that the
submarine which landed four Of the
enemy agents on the Long Island
coast last month came to the surface
about 900 yards from Coast Guard
station.
Capsising Of Boat Reported.
The rubber boat in which the -four
| agents were rowed ashore also Is
said 70 have capsized in the surf
on the beach, dunking the four
agents and the two German sailors
at the paddles, as well as the cargo
OF explosives and other supplies
which the saboteurs had planned to
use In their contemplated program
Of destruction Of vital American war
tndustiieA transportation systems
and bridges.
While the trial OF the sabotesirs
neared its finale, word was received
here Of further anti-spy activity In
other sections.
i. FBI agents T. % homes Of
i German and m M aliens near
Detroit and sehse 4i1eArms. short
wave receiving sets. binoculars.
cameras and . Ted-lens flashlight
which could have been used Is .
signaling device.
2. From the New York area came
numerous reports that Walter
Kappe, Rheinhold Rudolf Barth
and Joseph Schmidt, trained Ger
man saboteurs who the FBI says
may be in America, had been
sighted. by citisens. The EBI ap-
peared, sitter investigation to b
taking none Of these seriously.
4 -
;. Thirty-four Germans, japanese
and Italians were seized BY the
FBI around Miami, Fla, yesterday
to nip possible sabotage plans The
raids began ct $50 Am. AL but
two Italians and three Germans
were released later. In addition.
firearms, ammunition. radios and
cameras we're seized In serving 1876
search warrants.
| The Detroit raids showed m
alarming disregard" OF presidential
proclamation that enemy aliens
must turn over such articles to atl-
thorities for the duration, said John
s, Bugas, FBI agent In charge Of the
| area.
He revealed that, IN searching 100
homes duling the past two days, he
found only four which did not hAr-
bor prohibited weapons or equip
ment.
The Long Island, N r, town Of
Bridgehampton was the scene Of ex-
citement yesterday when United
States Merchant Marine inspector
reported refusing Z ride to three
hitchhtkers resembling Kappe, Barth
and Schmidt. A nine-State police
alarm was broadcast-largely be-
cause the site was only 20 miles
from the point where four Of the
sabateurs now on trial here landed
from submarine.
Report Branded False.
| But the FBI ONCE In New York
later said there Is no foundation
to the report"
| Somebody in Lakeview, on Long
Island, recalled that paper
hanger named Barth was Z resi-
dent there. The Nassau County
police picked up the paperhanger
and questioned him for five hours
before releasing him. He possessed
copy OF q book by another one
time paperhanger- Mein Kampf'-
printed In German, but the FBI
finally dismissed his resemblance
to Rheinhold Rudolf Barth as CO.
incidence.
Last night two young women re-
ported at police headquarters that
they believed they had met one
OF the wanted men last week In
Bronx Park, and produced q photo
graph. taken In the park, OF . man
in an Army uniform who police
said bore striking resemblance
to Walter Kappe.
/ The women said the man had in
troduced himself simply as Joe. |"
Police retained the print, but noth-
ing has come OF this angle as yet.
Lost Of u. S. Nationals