NAZI WAR-CRIMINALS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1945, Page 5

NAZI WAR-CRIMINALS

EXECUTE WITHOUT 1 TRIAL ARCHBISHOP’S ADVOCACY LONDON, March-22 The execution without trial of Nazi master criminals such as Hitler, Himmler, and “his gang” was advocated by the Archbishop of York, speaking in the House of Lords. The Archbishop said the master criminals who had corrupted Germany and ordered hideous crimes should be outlawed, so there would be no public trial, with its excitement and sensation-. He said these people should not be condemned for political offences, but for criminal offences. Those who caught them should put them to death' immediately their identity was established.

The Archbishop said the remaining guilty Germans should be. divided into two classes. The first- would be those who carried out cruel, savage orders. Some would say they were acting under orders, but there were some orders which in no circumstances ought to be obeyed. He was thinking of horrible tortures and crimes which no man should commit, however strong the order .given him. The other guilty class was the whole of the German people. “We cannot entirely distinguish the ordinary German people from the Nazis. They have some share in the guilt. After all, they chose Hitler and supported him year after year with the greatest enthusiasm. Doom is already falling on these people. They are seeing the destruction of their homes and cities. This is sufficient punishment. We ought to make it plain we have no idea of indiscriminate killing.”

LEAVE IT TO RUSSIANS.

NEW YORK, March 22.

Britain’s tough, dashing, 33-year-old commando leader, Brigadier the Lord Lovat, wants the Russians to get into Berlin first. Brigadier Lovat, who is returning to England after a visit to the United States, said: “I believe the Russians will get to Berlin first, and I hope they do. The Russians have suffered terribly from the Germans and they will not be as good-natured as we would when they get there. Unfortunately we have a habit of becoming kind-hearted when we hear a hard-luck story.

Brigadier Lovat said he dicL not think it would be necessary for the Allies to fight village for village through Germany. He expected the civilian collapse first. Brigadier Lovat was wounded six days after D Day. He expects to return to action..