FRENCH GENERAL SENTENCED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23843, 12 January 1943, Page 5

FRENCH GENERAL SENTENCED

OPPOSITION TO VICHY (Rcc 10 pm.) LONDON. Jan. 10. General de Tassigny, one of France s youngest and ablest officers, has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on charges of abandoning his post as commander at Montpelier when he heard that General Giraud had escaped to Africa, and of persuading several officers and men to form a dissident unit. , The Madrid correspondent ot tn„ “Daily Mail” says General do Tassigny poured scorn on the German judges who sentenced him. He said; You Germans are France’s only legal e ne ' mies. Vichy has broken off relations with Britain and America, but will not dare to declare war against these Powers, whom I consider to _ be France’s allies. You have no right to try me. I should be judged by my brother officers.” , .. The president of the Court heatedly interjected: "If you insult the Couit you will be removed and sentenced in your absence.” . . . , General de Tassigny interrupted an angry argument between the judges and counsel for the defence, saying; "This Court is illegal because it has not followed the French code, which has not been abolished, even by Vichy’s illegal decrees. The crime with which lam charged is not founded in fact or in law It is useless to defend myself because the Court has been ordered to condemn me.”