£2 O U m o < :i © o _ *i ta \ New York: Timoa. ai2nd,Ootobo*.1940 FINDS AXIS AGENTS IN DEFENSE PLANTS Dies Asserts 5,000 Potential Saboteurs Are Working in Detroit Industries HEARS 'SECRET' INFORMERS Chairman of Congress Inquiry Declares Blow at Key Posi- tions Is Planned DETROIT, Oct. 21 (.^-Martin Dies of Texas who came here for secret conferences with persons he described r* "informers." said In interviews today that about 5,000 potential saboteurs arc working In this Industrial center and thnt (he government has been "negligent and lax" in efforts to wipe out sub- versive organizations. The chairman of the House Com- mittee investigating un-American activities said that many foreign agents were employed In key posi- tions In plants in this section work- ing on war contracts. Acts of sabo- tage, he said would be committed when the defense program reached its maximum output. Mr. Dies said he planned to cata- logue those he described as po- tential saboteurs by names and oc- cupation and that he would seek to have them discharged from their jobs. "Employers say they cannot fire some of these saboteurs." ho added, "because of the National I.abor Relations Board. We may have to have a showdown on that." At Toledo Mr. Dies said the gov- ernment had not taken adequate steps "to handle the situation." and continued: "I don't believe we realize the danger in this country. It Is the very thing that has brought Europe to the brink of ruin. These sub- versive organizations, if allowed to continue, will do to this country ex- actly what was done In France." He identified some of the organi- zations as the German-American Bund, the Kyffhauserbund, the I. W. W., the International Labor Defense League, the maritime unions and the Transport Workers Union. "Organizations of this type," he said, "should he outlawed and tholr agents deported." Mr. Dies said he had not decided whether his committee would hold meetings here. "That depends upon what the informers tell me." he stated. The Information given by the "informers." he declared, was "important to the United States that their identities must be kept secret. Raids on German Sources By Th« UnKed >¦.¦<¦<> DETROIT. Oct. 21 —Chairman Dies of the House Committee In- vestigating Un-American Activities, declared today that he had positive evidence that Axis agents are work- ing In this area. Recent raids on German establish- ments in the East "provided us with the names" of some potential saboteurs "and we now hope to get the names of the rest and complete our catalogue." he said. Millions of dollars worth of de- fense contracts have been placed In Detroit and Michigan In recent weeks. A majority of the State's vast motor Industry Is at work on some phase of the defense program. "We won't accept employers' plea that workers can't be discharged because the National Labor Rela- tions Board and the unions won't allow it," Mr. Dies added, reiterat- ing a previous statement that "vvc have definite information of a series of sabotage acts scheduled to start here as soon as defense pro- duction is well under way. "The agents of the Axis arc al- ready in their places. Our mission Is to warn the country of what Is going to happen." Mr. Dies stated that he may be here "two or three weeks" and that his Investigation would extend Into the out-State area as well as Detroit. ito, ft