◆ SpookStack

Director dugust 3, 1935. they are absolutely desperate, that they are fighting their battles to the wall, and that they feel something has to be done to curd the activities of the Department of Justice agents. Agent Starr states that he has known Major Russell for a sumber of years and there has alwayz been some doubt as to hin. Russell clairs to have been one of the more important men in charge of Militery Intelligence operations in France and elsewhere in Europe during the World War. He has written magazine articles and possibly books about hie various almost unbelievable exploits. In many instances it seens to be impossible to determine whether he is dealing with fact or fiction in his artioles and talks. In addition to his writings he has frequently talked over the air and at various gatherings, and on such ocoasions he manages to create the impression that he actually directed the investigations whereof he speaks and that they are tru happenings. When Colonel Peter Traub was stationed at Governors Island, New York, he and Russell were wery friendly and at that time Russell gave @ series of lectures considered to be of a confidential mature on espionage and counter-espionage. Thess lectures were given dn the Army Building and were attended by reserve and regular Army officers. Agent Starr attended practically all of the lectures and he states tnat so iar as be could determine the instructions given were valuable and apparently based on a good imowledge of the subject or were the result of considerable reading. These lectures were illustrated by oocasional stories of episodes occurring over seas, but as to the authenticity of these stories Agent Starr has no knowledges The officers of wfurssery Intelligence Division stationed on Governors Island, New York, have on many occasions been doubtful of Major Russell's background and have seriously questioned his right to insimate that he ocoupied a position of responsibility in the Military Intelligence over seas during the World War. The Intelligence office here and in the War Department et Washington should have considerable information as to Major Russell Major Russell eteted to Agent Starr that he knows you quite well, having become acquainted with you.when "Billy Burns", as he called him, was the Director of the Bureau.