PLOT EXPOSED

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 454, 11 June 1937, Page 7

PLOT EXPOSED

ESPIONAGE SERVICE Arms Smuggling Ring Jaffa (T'-lostine), May 5. An ama-zihg story oF a secret radio station, tleafli in an orange groyeg vanishing witnesses and tecret socle-, ties led ths police to conclude "hey.had unearthed; an international syndic te for smuggling arms. The central figure in the fantastic story is Reuben Schenzv J, who once sold arms in South Anurica for the late Sir Basil Zaliaroff, Europe’s munitions merchant. Schenzvit wis given preliminary hearing before British Magistrate Paget Bourke on a charge of slaying Jacob Zwanger, 40-y ar-old Russian Jew and one-time Soviet vice commissar of harbours. Schenzvit denied the charges. Police chcrge that the actual slayer was Abdul Khader, an Arab, em- , ployed by Schenzvit and in gaol here. The Arab has admitted killing the Russian an.? alleged Schenzvit ordered him Ito do so, detectives working with British intelligence officers said. In Orange Grove. Police investigation begi.n with the disappearance of Zwanger the night of March 10. Seventeen days later the Russian’s body was found in a sandy cave, knifed and bludgeoned, in an oiunge grove near Schenzviit’s closely guarded home in Ramat Gan, a Jewish colony. Zwager had directed the Ilagonah, secret Jewish s. If-defence society. The seciety was so organised that each member knew only his immediate superior, 'and 0112 of his. fellow members. Police believed 'the man was slain because be knew of operations by a foreign espionage service. Quickly, the Royal Air Force intelligence service took charge of the investigation. These developments tumbled one upon the other. Both Zwanger and Schenzvit had worked in the Argenltine. Both camo here ten years ago. Schenzvit’s house contained a pow_ ! erful, unlicensed radio, a dozen microphones and dictographs hidden behind the pictures and mirrors. Police had to look four days to find th: m. Schenzvit explained he was a. radio £an Lnd installed the extra equipment to amuse his guests. The house had an underground I chamber, and in it was found a blood- ; stained sledge hammer. A secret tunnel from this chamber led to within 400 yards of the orange grove where Zwager’s body was found. Zwager possessed plans for both the tunnel and the radio equipment | at his own home in Til Aviv.