Evening star., 1951-07-03
0afis Denies Charges
He Headed Espionage
Network in Prague
BY the Assoeioied Press

BY the Associated Press
FRANKFURT, Germany, July 8.
William N. Oats denied a Com
munist prosecutors charge yester-
day that he had taken over an
"espionagle network" when he be-
came Associated Press bureau Chief
in Prague. But he told the court
trying him on anti-state charges
that he had been a spy.
The prosecutor. who depicted Mr..
oats as a link in spy ring in
cluding former Prague correspond
entS Of the Reuters news agency
(British) the French press agency
and United Press, indicated he
would call IL witnesses to the
stand today.
Among them are several Czech
writers, former employees Of Pan
American Airways and the United
Press: Josef Havelka, alleged mur-
derer of a Czech security officer;
Lydia Votavova, former AP en-
ploye and Mattel Kubik, former
Hotel Alcron bartender.
First Newsman Tried by Reds.
Mr.. Oats, first American news
paperman to be tried behind the
Iron Curtain in Europe, testified
yesterday in gloomy Pankrac Pris-
on where he has been held in
communicate since April %. He
is charged with activities hostile
to the State.
The 37-year-old native of Mar
ion. Ind, looked pale and strained
as he took the stand. Led into
the courtroom without the glasses
he usually wears, he spoke slowly
and in firm voice, never looking
at the spectators.
He is very near sighted and
without his glasses can see very
little.
Since his arrest, American EN-
baSsy officials and the Associated
Press have been unable to COM
municate with Mr.. Oats or pro-
vide him with counsel. His de-
fenSe attorney is Czech, ap-
pointed by the government.
Two American Embassy en-
ployes admitted to the trial are
reporting his testimony to the
United States High Commis-
sioner's Office in Frankfurt. There
are no Western newsmen left in
Czechoslovakia to cover the trial,
Coaching Indicated.
Reports from the trial room
said Mr.. Oats spoke in careful
phrases which suggested that he
had been carefully coached. He
halted at intervals, as If by pre-
arrangement for the translators
to keep up.
Three Czech citizens, formerly
employed by the AP. are on trial
with Mr.. Oats. They testified
yesterday that they also engaged
in spying. They are Tomas Svo-
boda, Pavel Wojdinek and Peter
MuntZ.
Although warned by the court
that admissions of guilt would
have bearing on their sentences, F"
they said they felt guilty"
Asked If he agreed with their
testimony, Mr.. Oats said, Gen
orally speaking, yes"
Mr.. Oats denied the Czech
governments charge that he had
taken over IAN espionage network
when he became Prague bureau
chief. He insisted he had taken
over only Associated Press office
personnel.
The prosecutor commented that
1t takes only two informants to
constitute an espionage network.
Charge Denied by AP.
The government charged in a
statement before the trial that
Mr.. Oats and the three postwar
AP bureau chiefs who preceded
him in Prague had organized the
bureau into spy center that
worked closely with United States
Government officials
The Associated Press has denied
this charge and declared it $50
preposterous it will deceive no one
in the free world"
A State Department spokesman
In Washington said the charges
were the same old record which
is beginning to be worn out
we've heard it for five years.
They only go to demonstrate
the almost psychopathic fear in
those Iron Curtain countries of
permitting a reporter to do an
objective reporting job and report
facts" he said.
The Czech Communist prosecu-
tor described Mr.. Oats, who went
to Prague in June, 1850, as the
most subtle. discreet and refined
of the four AP bureau chiefs since
the war and consequently the
most dangerous.
Press Reports Trial.
An account of the first day oi
Mr.. Oats trial as printed in Rude
Pravo. Communist organ ir
Prague, was received here today
This quoted him as saying hi
spent two months at school o1
military espionage in Minnesota
and one year at another school al
Ann Arbor, Mich.
II left this school in December
1945, when I became correspond.
ent of the Associated Press" hi
was quoted.
Actually, Mr.. Oats joined the
A. P. in 1887 at Indianapolis ane
was on military leave of absence