ESPIONAGE PLOT UNEARTHED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 79, 27 December 1937, Page 9

ESPIONAGE PLOT UNEARTHED

-PresB AsBn.-

Letters Confiscated Aboard Japanese Boats VIGILANCE REDOUBLED

(By Telegrapli-

-Copyright.)

NEW YOEK, Dec. 24. The San Francisco Chronicle states that United States Customs agents boarded the Japanese liner Tatsuta Maru just before she sailed from San Francisco on T'hursday and seized a Sheaf of letters reputedly linked with a Coastwise Cspionage plot conCerning the Bremerton navy yard. The Chronicle adds: "It is known that in recent weeks both Customs agents and postal inspect,ors have redoubled vigilance for the purpose of intercepting suspicious letters addressed to nndisclosed Far Eastern destinations. ' ' It is stafced the letters reported to be taken from the Tatsuta Maru were not stamped and were entrusted to an unidentified party aboara. A further message from San Francisco says the navy has tightened up the . patrol of California waters, while Gustoms oflicials made further seiznres of . mail aboard Japanese nners: These reports give further impetus to news that the Government is actively investigating a possible widespread espionage plot. Packets eontaining approximately 400 letters are reported te have been seized aboard the Hokka Maru, Kinai Maru and a third unnamed Japanese vessel at Los Angelek The mail did not go through the regular postal channfels, but Was iUcluded with the company papdfs in packages handled only by tEe company agents. It is reported unoflicially that the Mexican Government is co-operating With the United States in checking andi inspecting "alien craft." It is tumoured Mexico has sent several armed patrol boats to the Mexican west coast. Another report says one of Mexico 's new super gunboats has been assigned to the patrol to check the activities , of tuna fishing fleets off Southern California. Alien hydrographic experts were discevered making soundings and charts in Bottthern Califofnian waters.