TRIAL OF DELINQUENTS

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1942, Page 5

TRIAL OF DELINQUENTS

Courts Martial for All

(Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec.. 11.30). SYDNEY, May 21. The United States Army is seekm for an arrangement with the* Government under Which the n . bers of the American forces will be tried before Army tribunals ‘ classes .of their offences, no matter where they are committed. . ... It is expected that no ddll^ dt . will be encountered in completing some such arrangement. ■ The present procedure is that n American Army authorities app Y the Courts before .which America servicemen appear, for permission to have the offenders dealt witn bv <*n Army Courtmartial. Their ai ' rau °®' ments are working smoothly, but it is hoped that now a general policy may be defined. i,„ „ i IPP n Assurances, it. is stated, have given that the penalties to be imposed will certainly not be hghtei, bu probably will be heavier, than - - imposed in a Civil Court, while th. Commonwealth will be saved ti e penses of court and of prison adm.n istration. , ... Men who are found guilty ol minor offences would be made w work out their punishment .while still continuing their Army duties. Serious cases, such as murder and rape where the penalties are death life imprisonment, the United states Army is prepared to administer b punishments. Where da^ ' civilian property is involved, compen sation rights would be secured y Naim on the United States Army. As under the King's Regulations,, a soldier in the forces ol the United States Army is subject to trialLb courtmartial for any offence coniniw ted no matter where it takes place. This does not affect the rights ot civilian authorities to take action.