LOCATED ON SHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26630, 28 November 1947, Page 5

LOCATED ON SHIP

WANTED NAZI AGENT ARRESTED IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, Nov. 27. The former head of the Nazi Party in Australia, and described as the “most arrogant and dangerous enemy alien in the Commonwealth,” Dr Johannes Heinrich Becker, 49, was arrested early this mrning on board the American tanker Cedar Breaks near Sydney Heads. He had stowed away with three other men, all American seamen, in the tanker; which was bound for Balboa in the Panama canal zone. Becker broke his parole last week when directed to report for deportation to Germany, and since then security and police officers throughout Australia have been seeking him. But for engine trouble, which delayed the ship, he might not have been discovered.

The ship was moving down the harbour yesterday afternoon when a fault developed in the water pump engine. She anchored near the Heads while three men were sent by launch to repair the damage.. While they, were at work one stowaway, apparently thinking the ship was at sea, cpme out of hiding in search of food. The captain ordered him to be arrested and then conducted a search of the ship, which revealed the others.

Desperately pleading not to be handed over to security officers Becker offered the captain of the tanker £ISOO to take him to Panama. The offer was made after his discovery.

While the police searched Australia for. him Becker was hiding without food or water on board the tanker. He is believed to have been on board since last Thursday when he offered the ship’s officer £SOO to be smuggled out of Australia. He is now under heavy guard at a military barracks and will be flown to Fremantle to-morrow to be placed on board the United States ship General Heintzelmann for deportation to Germany. The three other stowaways found in the tanker have been released.

When the police asked his identity Becker stood to attention and said: “ Deutschland Über Alles.” He submitted quietly to arrest, but struggled violently when handcuffed, before taken on board the police launch, and later when being driven to the police station.

Becker, who hat been in Australia 19 years, was head of the Nazi Party in the Commonwealth from 1933 to 1936. He was once a ship’s surgeon with the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line. Released from internment last September he was put on parole until eight days ago, when he was ordered to report for a passage to Germany by the American transport, General Heintzelmann. Becker flew to Sydney under an assumed name, left his luggage with friends at Rose Bay, and disappeared. He has an Australian wife and two children. Heinrich 12 and Marlene 10. living in South Australia. Mrs Becker has said she will not go to Germany with her husband .who is believed to fear a denazification trial there.