FIFTEEN YEARS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2642, 10 May 1923, Page 5

FIFTEEN YEARS.

SENTENCES 4T TRIAL OF KROPP DIRECTORS. WILL BE SENT TO FKENCTI PRISON. SENSATIONAL CLOSING SCENES. [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Wednesday, 7.45 p.mj) BERLIN, May 8. The full list of sentences imposed at the Krupp trial is as follows: Krupp and his fellow directors, Osterlen and Hartwlg, 15 years' imprisonment and a line of 100,000,000 marks. Bruhn 10 years' imprisonment, and a fine of 100,000,000. Mueller, a member of the Workers' Council, six months' imprisonment. These were present at the trial. The following were absent:— Bithcr, Schaeffer, Kuntz and Schraepler sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, and lined 100,000,000 marks. Groos, head of the 10 years' imprisonment) and lined 50,000,000 marks. The closing scenes of the trial at Warden were marked by intense excitement. The whole neighbourhood of the Courthouse was guarded by French troops, the market place being occupied 'by cavalry and tanks, as the French feared an effort might' bo made to rescue Heir Krupp. In his final evidence, Hcrr Krupp admitted that his linn had received official instructions from Berlin regarding- the lines on which resistance should be carried on, which were the same as the whole German nation received.

Captain Duvert, in a bitter closing speech for the prosecution, insisted that Herr Krupp's personal responsibility was incontestable. " The Germans are a disciplined people, who never act on their own initiative," declared Captain Duvert,, adding that the order for the attack on a little group of ten French soldiers came from Berlin and was issued by the Krupp firm itself. Some thousands of disguised police agents took part in the attack. " Imagine how these great Krupp chiefs remained motionless in their board room, while thousands of their employees were threatening these ten French soldiers with death ! 1 gine their smile, when they peeped .own on the spectacle from the windows. Wo saw the same smile during the war. Their generals displayed it when German troops were burning French villages and massacring the inhabitants. The hands of these men," Captain Duvert concluded dramatically, " are red with the blood of their own workmen, and with the French blood that flowed that day."

Maitre Moriaud, the famous Swiss international lawyer, in an impassioned speech on behalf of Herr Krupp, maintained, with a wealth of argument, that tha charges were not supported by a single fact.

A sensation followed when Capt. Duvert rose and said seven persona were to be tried in Dusseldorf on the following day who had already admitted they belonged to a Society Whoso purpose was a murder persons objeetionablo to Germany. These persons declared they received pay in a Krupp building from an ex.oflicer who was once a Krupp engineer.

Amidst the amazement of the pcopJ e in the Courthouse, who were accus. tomed to the procedure of other countries, Maitre Moraud sprang up and protested against this statement, add. ing: "Anyone who said that is guilty of a lie." Raising his voice t Maitre Moriaud concludes: "Yon call this justice in the nam e of Prance! In the nam e of France, I say, render justice!" The Court agreed upon Herren Krupp's and Bruhn's sentences by a majority only, namely, three to two. The decision in other cases was unanil mous. Herr Krupp and his co.directors will be taken to a Frencn prison.

WORLD'S CONSCIENCE CHALLENGED.

GENERAL INDIGNATION,

(Received Wednesday, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 9.

The majority of London newspapers received the news of the Krupp sentences too late for comment, but the "Daily Chronicie" says: "The sentences fairly take one's breath away. Solemnly to pretend that the blame for massacre is on the side qf the masascred is to challenge not merely the feelings of. Germany but tho conscience of all the world. How can peace for Europe and security for France, or civilisation for mankind, be compatible with such courses? The "Daily Express" Berlin correspondent reports that the sentences have roused general indignation. Dr. Sorge, President of the Union of Industrallsts, and Krupps' Berlin representative declares: "It is now impossible for the Gormany industrialists to co-operate with the French. The sentence is an indignity."