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Thousands Join Citizens’ Militia in Drive on Uruguay’s 5th Column

July 23, 1940
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Interest continues to be focussed on Nazi fifth column activities following the recent revelation of the military plot to seize Uruguay as Germany’s first “agricultural colony” in South America and use it as the base for a drive to take Brazil and Argentina under German “protection.”

Dr. Thomas Brena, Catholic leader in the Chamber of Deputies, stated in an interview with the semi-official newspaper El Pueblo: “It would be suicidal to think that we have escaped all danger. The danger has only been temporarily avoided.” Dr. Brena is chairman of the Parliamentary commission which uncovered the Nazi plot.

Tens of thousands of citizens have joined the special Citizens’ Militia, organized to defend Uruguay against any fifth column putsch. More than 1,000,000 pesos have been voted by the Chamber for purchase of armaments from the United States.

The ten Germans arrested following disclosure of the plot were released pending trial, reportedly as a result of German Legation pressure, but one of them, Adolph Dutine Nazi chief in the city of Paysandu, was rearrested when he entered the police station at Paysandu and demanded the names of the policemen responsible for the arrest originally.

According to the newspaper Orientacion, numerous German “tourists” continuously arrive in this country, suspiciously like those who filtered into Belgium and Holland several months ago.

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