FIFTH COLUMNISTS IN AMERICA.

Evening Star, Issue 24333, 23 October 1942, Page 2

FIFTH COLUMNISTS IN AMERICA.

vlt, was well'that, through, the work of the Dies Committee and other agencies, the eyes of, Americans were opened to the wide ramifications of German “ fifth columnists ” in their midst before America entered the war. and even before the present World War began. The task of tracking down public enemies must have been much aided by those revelations Since the United States became a belligerent it has: gone on apace. One of the first coups of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was performed when eight men landed from two submarines at’beaches 1,000 miles apart and planted among them 170,000 dollars in American currency, bombs, delayed-timing instruments, incendiary pistols and acids—enough material for a two years’ campaign of destruction. They liad all been members of the notorious German Bund in America; one of them was American-born and another naturalised; all of them, helped by Nazi funds, bad been back in Germany for special training in sabotage before their active campaign was nipped in the bud. Their trial, by a special eourv, composed of seven generals, was still proceeding when a German air lieutenant. Deter Krug, gave another ilJusti ati«pii of the Nazi spirit. Krug bad escaped from a prison camp in Canada, had been aided on his way by a naturalised German. Max • Stephan, who gave him money and food, and when, after all. he was arrested, had no scruples in giving evidence against his helper Stephan was convicted of treason am! sentenced to he hanged. Hu informed the < ourt: “ Although 1 have become an Ann rmiiii citizen my blood is German. .1 am not sorry for what I have done, and I would do it again.” The authorities'' next capture was Gerhard Wilhelm Kunzo, a former Federal leader of the Bund. 1 a native-born citizen who, it was said, always listed himself German-American. because “ the blood in my veins is different.” He was charged with consniring to send military information - to Germany and Japan, before America's entry into the war. To-day it is reported that twenty-four Bund leaders, including Kuuze, have been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment far conspiracy to evade conscription. They boasted in gaol that the trial meant nothing to them, because “ tbe;r liberation would come when Hitler took possession of the United States.” If Hitler’s (lime schools could succeed thus with Americans born, one can understand their effect upon native Germans.