BELGRADE TRIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26176, 12 June 1946, Page 5

BELGRADE TRIAL

THE CHETNIK LEADER ALLEGED COLLABORATION BELGRADE, June 10. General Draja Mihailovich was greeted with hisses, boos, and cries of “ You will be hanged ” when he entered the floodlit courtroom for trial on charges of collaboration with Germany and Italy and other war crimes. One thousand" spectators packed the court, including journalists and photographers from 100 agencies. Mihailovich was dressed in a plain brown uniform and was wearing heavy army boots. On trial with Mihailovich are 24 former Ministers and politicians, charged with collaboration and other crimes. All the republics and autonomous regions of Jugoslavia sent groups of .observers, and arrangements have been made to give the trial the maximum of publicity. The official interpreters are translating the evidence into English, Russian, and French.

The charges against Mihailovich are: (1) Raising a Chetnik organisation called the Jugoslav Army in the homeland- (2) using the organisation to stifle the liberation struggle of the Jugoslav people; (3) committing countless war crimes of all descriptions. Among the allegations in the 6000word indictment are the following:— That Mihailovich personally commanded the Chetniks against the partisans; collaborated with the Germans and the Italians since 1941; co-oper-ated with the quisling Nedich Government of Serbia; approved of atrocities and measures of extermination against the Communists.

There was a partisan soldier with a tommy-gun behind each defendant. Mihailovich listened stolidly as the indictment was read, occasionally stroking his thick, greying beard. He gave his occupation as “ general of the army.” The indictment against Mihailovich stated that when two of his officers returned from Cairo after King Peter’s wedding they delivered a message to Mihailovich from the British general, Masterton, that ‘‘he should liquidate the Communists as soon as possible.” The indictment also alleged that American officers attended a conference between Mihailovich and the German commander. It also alleged that the 1941 offensive against Marshal Tito’s partisans was planned in accordance with a message conveyed to Mihailovich from Cairo by the British liaison officer, Captain Hudson.