GERMAN SPY’S DEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 5

GERMAN SPY’S DEED

PESTRUCTION OF NORMANDIE

PURPORTED CONFESSION « RECEIVED Rec 10 p.m. NEW YORK, Nov 12. A German spy was responsible for the fire on board the French liner Normandie in 1942 when she was being converted to a troop transport, according to the French language newspaper, France Amerique. The spy, who is now held in Germany on a murder charge is quoted by the newspaper as saving' that several former members of the German- Bund were * working on the Normandie and that (tie men acted under his orders to jet fire to the lifebelts. His group did not risk much as the Normandie was not guarded by the army, navy or Th oeaSt|gendts 0 e aSt |gen d ts placed lifebelts at strategic points and at a given signal set fire to them with blow-torches. Only when the fire was well started was the fire alarm given Fire-fight-ing equipment on board had been '! sabotaged and conflicting orders given * to the firemen to slow up their work. The New York Times gives the spy s name as Fritz Scheffer and reports that The F 8.1. expressed interest in the purported | confession as it is * anxious to obtain further details. At the time of the fire the F. 8.1. made a thorough investigation which did not reveal evidence of . sabotage.