HIGH COMMAND BLAMED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 43, 20 February 1942, Page 5

HIGH COMMAND BLAMED

EX-PREMIERS' CASE ATJ

RIOM TRIAL

LONDON, February'l9. Two former French Premiers, MM. Blum and Daladier, blamed the French High Command for the

defeat of France when ;teei long-

prepared Riom trial opened today*

M. Blum attacked Marshal Game* lin, former Allied Generalissimo, vehe* mently as the person mainly respon* sible for the French defeat. He ex* pressed astonishment at the absence of M. Reynaud, who was Prime Minister of France at the time of the collapse, and of M. Mandel, who was tha Minister of the Interior and what wanted France to fight on,from.North; Africa

Standing trial with the two exPremiers are Marshal Gamelin, M. L* Chambre, former Air Minister, and M* Jacomet, former controller-general oiS armaments. M. Cot, another formefl Air Minister, who is in the United! States, is being tried in absentia. The main indictment is that the accused are responsible for the fact that when war began the French army and air force were not ready to carry out} their mission. Earlier in the proceedings, Marshal Gamelin announced he would not defend himself. "I have already beea condemned politically without bemg; able to defend myself," he said. "II I defended myself today I must mention certain French and foreign namel which I do not wish to mention." M. Daladier declared, that Germany was responsible for the war and was trying to cover her guilt. He was interrupted by the president of tha Court, who said that if M. Daladie* continued to mention foreign Powers the hearing would proceed in camera*