The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-08-09
MORE REDS IN FEDERAL
 POSITIONS
Elizabeth Bentley on Stand Again Before Un-Am-
 eritan Committee
By DOUGLAS B. CORNELL


 WASHINGTON. Aug. 9-lR- Elizabeth T. Bentley testified today it is extremely likely" there were many more. than two groups of government officials which she said leaked wartime secrets to a So- viet spy ring.
 She repeated testimony that two groups were headed by Victor Per- 10 and Nathan Gregory Silvermaster Perlo and Miss Bentley took turns on the witness stand of the house Un-American Activities Committee. The Committee is Investigating stories of Soviet intrigue and es- pionage in this country. Perlo refused to say whether he was ever a Communist or whether he knows or ever before has seen Miss Bentley. who calls herself former Communist and wartime courier for Soviet agents He had a prepared statement from which Committee members quoted this part: T vigorously deny the charges that have been leyeled against me" Silvern1aster also has entered such a broadside denial. He has stated he was not spy but refused to say if he ever was Com munist.
 Perlo Energetic Asked by Chairman J. Parnell Thomas (R-NJ) if Perlo seemed very enthusiastic about providing information, Miss Bentley testified:
 T would say he was the most energetic one in that entire group"
 Rep. Herbert tD-LA) asked whether there were many groups operating in the government similar to ones she said were headed by Perlo and Silvermaster.
 Nodding agreement. Miss Bentley said
 T do know that my contact, Jack, told me of other people he had ceen in contact with, but not by name or individuals"
 Herbert: So 1t is safe to assume there were innumerabie other groups operating under heads like Silvermaster and Perlo?
 Miss Bentley: It is extremely likely.
 She has told the Committee of having various contact men among the Red agents as Jack, Bill or Charlie-people whose last names she did not know.
 In addition to testimony from Miss Bentley, the Committee has heard about Perlo from Whitaker Chambers, who says he is a former Communist now with Time Maga- zine Chambers described Perlo as a leader of prewar Communist un- !derground in Washington. Time after time, Perlo refused to tell the hearing whether he knew people Miss Bentley and Chambers had named as members of the Red underground or Red spy ring. On advice of counsel, he refused to answer on grounds the Constitu- ton says he need not incriminate or degrade himself with replies The Committee put Perlo on the stand ahead of its mystery witness. Alexander Koral. who has been des- cribed by Committee members as able to crack the spy case wide open.
 Koral Testifies And the witness. Koral, did not have much to say. He refused to tell whether he is a Communist or whether he knows Elizabeth Bent Hey. the self-termed former Com munist agent. Koral tended off most of the questions on the grounds that the answers might incriminate him Representative Karl Mundt of the House Committee on Un-American Activities had said that Koral could break the spy case wide open. How ever, Koral's testimony today was a series of mo comments" Shortly before 1<oral took the stand. the Justice Department an nounced that the London-born man had testified at length to a New York grand jury one year ago. The department said the nature of his testimony is still secret.
 Koral said he has been employed