NAZI SABOTEURS SEER IN BATHING SUITS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 166, 16 July 1942, Page 5

NAZI SABOTEURS SEER IN BATHING SUITS

ON AMERICAN COAST

Coastguard's Surprise On Midnight Vigil United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 2 p.m. WASHINGTON, July 15. The Office of War Information disclosed to-day that it was Coastguardsman John Cullen. 21, who surprised four of the eight German saboteurs now on trial when they landed from a submarine on Long Island, New York. Guardsman Cullen had left his station at midnight for a six-mile coast patrol, which took him to Amagansett. the scene of the submarine landing. The weather was thick and visibility poor. Cullen had covered only 300 yards when he saw three men, two "of whom were in bathing suits in the water up to the knees, while a third was standing on the shore.

Cullen called out "What's the trouble?" but there was no answer. The man on shore advanced toward Cullen, who asked: "Who are you?" Again there was no answer. Cullen reached in his pocket for a torch, and the man, thinking he was reaching for a gun, cried: "Wait a minute. Are you a coastguard?"

"Yes, who are you?" Cullen re

plied. "A couple of fishermen from Southampton who have run aground," the man said.

Cullen suggested that they come to the station and await daybreak, and added that the weather was getting worse and the fog closing in. "I Wouldn't Want to Kill You" The spokesman then said: "Wait a minute. You do not know what is going on. How old are you? Have you a father and mother. I wouldn't want to have to kill you." Cullen said one of the men in bathing suits appeared to be dragging a bag and began to speak in German. Cullen asked: "What's in the bag? clams?" The man said: "Yes. That's right." Cullen knew there were no clams for miles. Cullen pretended gullibility and appeared to influence the spokesman into changing his voice to a friendly tone. The man asked: "Why don't you forget the whole thing? Here's some money, a hundred dollars." Cullen told him he did not want money. The man then took additional bills from his wallet and said: "Then take 300." Cullen replied: "Okay." The man then stared hypnotically and asked several times: "Would you recognise me if you saw me again?" Cullen finally said "no," and was permitted to leave. Powerful Engines Heard The Coastguardsman ran back through the thickening fog towards the station, and reported to the officer in charge, Carl Ross Jenette, who telephoned to his superior officers. He then armed himself, Cullen and three others with rifles, and hastened to the landing place. The Germans had disappeared. Warren Barnes, Jenette's superior officer, arrived 15 minutes later, and, through a rift in the fog, saw a long thin object about 70 feet long about 150 feet offshore. Cullen heard powerful Diesel engines, and Barnes„. fearing a landing in force, deployed men behind the dunes, but fog enveloped the ship, and the noise died awaj'.

Back at the station, when the bribe money was counted, it was found that it totalled 260 dollars only. A thorough search ensued, and later a pair of wet bathing trunks, apparently left as a marker, were found. The Coastguardsmen dig into the sand, and found four wooden cases weighing about 701b. At another spot they found German clothing. With a can opener a guardsman opened one tin, and found incendiary pen and pencil sets. Another box contained incendiary material. One case gave off a hissing sound caused by the action of salt water upon T.N.T.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation then took over the case, and ultimately captured four men who landed at Long Island. Four others were captured in Florida.