NAZI SPIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 156, 6 May 1940, Page 7

NAZI SPIES

OPEN TRIAL CONDUCTED FOR ESPIONAGE A SECRET TRANSMITTER H is staled at Rotterdam that? since November tlie (lermaii Army Command has been receiving clailv reports oil the condition ol' the Dutch soil, and -weather conditions, by secret wireless from Holland. 'This "was revealed at the trial In open court of two alleged Nazi spies, a German named Dreves, and a Dutch clerk named BaUkcVf i". They Mere accused of sending weather forecasts for the use of the German Air Force and Navy. Tt Avas alleged that Bakker, a former radio telegraphist, was connected with Lhe German intelligence service in the last war. For his forecasts lie was paid a month and expenses. The broadcast apparatus Avas smuggled into Holland and hidden in the walls of his house. It was so strong that its signals were often received in the United States. Referring particularly to the treasonable act ion of giving inlormalion about Dutch soil conditions, which, wore very important lor a, country like Holland, that depended on inundation for its defence, the public prosecutor demanded a sentence of live years' imprisonment for Bakker. Aid to Artillery. An expert stated that information on the condition of Dutch soil would be useful to any foreign Power contemplating heavy artillery movements on Dutch territory. Dreves, who was next tried, confessed to being a member of the German "Abwehr," the Nazi counter espionage organisation. He said he was a courier, and admitted that he had taken money to several people in Holland and ensured that Bakker obtained the transmitter, "I have got my orders,," he said in court, and jumped into a military attitude. A five years' sentence was also demanded against him by the public prosecutor, who said the trial had been held in public to show how extremely risky it was to take part in such espionage work in a neutral country that wishes to remain neutral.