PURGE IN GERMANY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24971, 14 August 1944, Page 4

PURGE IN GERMANY

SCOPE OF EXECUTIONS OVER 3000 PEOPLE SHOT (Recti. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12 Diplomatic quarters estimate that between 3000 and 4000 people have been shot so far in the purge after the attempt on Hitler's 1 life, says Renter's Zurich correspondent. Reliable reports from throughout Europe indicate that the conflict between the Wehrmacht and the S.S. is becoming more open. Mass arrests continuo in Germany, says the Moscow, radio. Not only, genorals but also important civil servants are still being arrested. There has been lighting between Black Guard men and German Army officers in East Prussia, West Prussia and the Danzig area. The radio adds that Hitler has issued a new order which says: "Officers who do not obey the recent order to substitute the Nazi for the Army salute are liable to be court-nuvrtiallod. Courtmartial judges have been instructed to pass the death sentence in all cases of conscious refusal to giro the Nazi salute." . The president of the German National Committee in Moscow, General Seydlitz, in a broadcast from Moscow, told German generals that fear already holds Hitler and his circlo in its grip. ''Millions are against the Hitlerites, ho added, "both in civilian and Army spheres." , „ ~ Goebbels announced further restrictions for the film industry, banning trade and cultural films. Malos must not in future bo employed as operators or ushers. Usherettes must bo over oO years of age. 12 DEATH SENTENCES GREEK. NAVAL MUTINY (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) ALEXANDRIA. Aug. 12 Twelve members of the Greek Navy, including one officer, have been sentenced to death for taking part in the mutiny on the Greek destroyer Pmdos in April. The court-martial sentenced eight others of tho accused to life imprisonment. two to 20 years, one to ten years, two to three years, and acquitted one. DANGER OF FIREARMS ATTRACTION TO BOYS WARNING FROM CORONER (0.C.) AVAIHI, Saturday An inquest was held today by the coroner, Mr W. M. Wallnutt, into the tleatli of Eldou Graham Comes, aged 12, son of Mr 11. G. Comes, who was accidentally shot by his brother Frederick, ageel 10, when both bdys were playing with a heavy service revolver at their homo on August 1. Frederick Comes said they wanted to put some sauce into their lunch pies, and when looking for the sauce they found the revolver. He took it out of its pouch and then looked for some ammunition. He found some bullets in the kitchen dresser and .put about four of them in the revolver, Eldon putting in two. Witness pulled the trigger two or three times, but his brother Eldon was not standing in front of the revolver. He pulled the trigger again, and this time it went off and jerked toward Eldon, who called out and ran toward the porch, whero he collapsed. They had been laughing and joking at the time of the accident. Dr L. It. Hetherington said thattho bov was unconscious when ho examined him, and he died when being puF into bed. . -Ti, Returning a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said he had no wish to add to the distress of the bereaved family, but would be failing m, his duty if ho did not refer to the frequency of accidents associated with firearms. Generally speaking, parents failed to recognise the great danger of tho accessibility of such weapons to children. A gun of any description strongly appealed to the romantic side of a boy's nature, particularly in respect to cowboy stories and pictures and to the playing of war games, hence every precaution should be taken to keep firearms under lock and key. Parents had a great responsibility, and he earnestly appealed to them to heed- tho warning. FINES FOR BOOKMAKING PUKEKOHE PROSECUTIONS (0.C.) PUKEKOHE. Sunday The premises of Harry B. Stockwell and Harold Jones, fruiterers, King Street and tho private residence of Tracy K. Willis,/Prospect Terrace, Pukekobe, were visited by the Pukekohe police and ten Auckland detectives on Saturday afternoon. Later the three men appeared at the Police Court before Messrs J. B. Sim and H. Burrows, J.P.'s, charged with bookmaking, and pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant T. Kcllv said that betting material seized snowed that Willis had taken bets for one day's racing totalling £B4, Stockwell had taken £2B 10s, and Jones £G 10s in bets and £2B in cash. He said Stockwell and Jones were agents for bookmakers in Auckland. Willis' business was more extensive. as the £B4 taken in bets up to p.m., the time of the visit, showed. Defendants said they bad paid £2O and £5 limits. Willis was fin el £35, Stockwoll £3C and Jones £'2s. MENTION IN DESPATCHES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sunday Tho King has approved the following members of the Second N.Z.E.F. beinc mentioned in despatches in recognition of distinguished services in the field. Tin men concerned both returned to New Zealand this year. They are:—Corpora! Fred Ivan Aumonier Woollams. of Ma ngamalm, and Private Donald Pilcher, of Wellington.