VON PAPEN CAPTURED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 16 April 1945, Page 5

VON PAPEN CAPTURED

FOUND HIDING IN HUNTING LODGE London, April 15. Franz von Papen, ex-Reich Chancellor and one-time Ambassador in Turkey and the United States and the Nazis’ wiliest negotiator, was captured last Wednesday by men of an American glider regiment while hiding in his son-in-law’s hunting lodge at Stockhausen, in the Ruhr pocket. Von Papen, wjio also fell into Allied hands last war. has been officially identified.

The capture of his son, Lieut. Frank von Papen, led to his discovery. When a patrol reached the hunting lodge they found the son-in-law outside with a gun. Von Papen was inside eating his dinner. He admitted his identity when confronted with a photograph. Von Papen said to his captors: “I cannot imagine what you Americans want with a man aged 67?” As he was led away dressed in Tyrolean costume he added, “I wish this war was over.” An American sergeant replied, “So do 11,000.000 other guys.” Reuter’s political correspondent describing von Papen as the man behind some of the most notorious incidents in German history in the past 25 years, says he is alleged to have arranged the historic meeting in Krupps’ vill/i at Essen between Hitler and German heavy industry kings, which led in 1933 to complete Nazi control of the Reich. Von Papen when German Chancellor in 1932 practically paved the way for Hitler to be Chancellor. He was ViceChancellor; in the first Hitler Cabinet. Von Papen is a devout Roman Catholic, which he sometimes used to diplomatic advantage. He has been called the greatest mischief-maker of the century DEATH FOR TWO NEGRO SOLDIERS London, April 15. Two negro soldiers were sentenced to death by hanging and a third to life imprisonment by a court-martial for the rape of two German women, reports the Associated of Great Britain. The husband of one woman came to thank an American officer for the verdict, and the officer said : “We did it to maintain discipline, not to please you ’