EXCHANGE OF MILITARY AND CIVIL PRISONERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 113, 16 May 1918, Page 5

EXCHANGE OF MILITARY AND CIVIL PRISONERS

AGREEMENT BETWEEN" FRANCE AND GERMANY. .'Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.} (Rec. May 16, 8.45 a.m.) * LONDON, May 15. Lord Newton announced- i n the House of Lords that France and Germany had screed to an equal exchange of military ■xnd civilian prisoners, including ablebodied men who liad been in captivity for 18 months. The arrangement affects about 30,000 French and Germans. Britain wa= now prepared to reconsider the matter. Lord" Newton .suggested' three years 'captivity as a possible qualification for exchange. The number was not great The procedure was slow, and it was impossible for the enemy to gain anv military advantage. Lord- Burnham presed for a speedy decision, and appealed on behalf of the dying and tortured remnats of the old Army. BONNET ROUGE TRIAL. ANXIOUS FOE. JVIORE LIGHT. CAILLAUX GIVES EVIDENCE. A SCENE IN COURT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association I PARIS. Ma7i 14. I The Bonnet Rouge trial has been thus far tame. The Court was suddenly crowded owing to a report that M. j Caillaux was going to give evidence. He showed the highest spirits, imprisonment not having affected health. He several times tried to make political speeches justifying his pacifist views, but the President always interfered. Caillaux denied having- given the Bonnet Rouge money since the war, though he gave 40.000 francs before the" war. when he had to defend his owl* honour and his wife's against abominable press attacks. The prisoners became angry at some of Caillaux 's remarks and created a scene, shouting "Liar!" It is expected judgment will be .given to-night and that Duval and another prisoner - " will probably be condemned to death.