GEN. MIKHAILOVITCH

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1946, Page 5

GEN. MIKHAILOVITCH

STATEMENTS AT TRIAL. BELGRADE, June 13. General Mikhailovitch admitted at his trial to-day that the Chetniks fought alongside Germans, White Russians, Bulgarians and Quisling forces against the Partisans in Serbia in 1944. He described the action as haphazard. He denied that he received material aid from the Serbian Quisling Premier, Neditch. General Mikhailovitch agreed it was possible that his units received material in trucks and also 30 railway wagon-loads of wheat for the people. “I am a great enemy of Neditch. He gave me 30 days’ gaol when I was a colonel,” he said. General Mikhailovitch insisted that when the Partisans did not attack him he fought against the occupying forces. He said the Germans in September, 1944, asked him to arrange a meeting with a United States officer, Colonel McDowell, to mediate for a German surrender. The German representative, Sterker, said he wanted discussions with the Western Allies. The Germans would capitulate before all the Allies. The danger of Communism still existed and the Germans and Allies should unite. Colonel McDowell had replied: “Do not worry about that. .You will have to capitulate to the Allies ’. General Mikhailovitch said he told Sterker that German intrigues between the Soviet and the- Allies would not succeed. He added that the interview between Colonel McDowell and Sterker occurred in his presence. He would not have received Sterker if Colonel McDowell had not been with him. Then, pointing to the indictment, he said: “Someone is trying to give a wrong impression.” PARIS, June 13. The High Court committed for trial four French admirals, charged with collaboration with the enemy and alleged implication in scuttling the French fleet at Toulon in November, 1942. They included Admirals Abrial, former naval commander-in-chief, and Auphan, Vichy Minister for Marine before Abrial. M. Auphan, who is still abroad, will be tried in absentia.