POURED SCORN ON JUDGES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22477, 12 January 1943, Page 3

POURED SCORN ON JUDGES

Young French General Imprisoned Alleged Abandonment Of Post By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright <9.40 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 10. General de Tassigny. one of France's youngest and ablest officers, has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on charges of abandoning his post as commander of Montpelier when he heard that General Giraud had escaped to Africa, and persuading several officers and men to form a dissident unit. The Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that General de Tassigny poured scorn on the German judges who sentenced him. He said: “You Germans are France's only legal enemies. Vichj’ has broken off relations with Britain and America, but will not dare to declare war against the Powers I consider to be France s allies. You have no right to try me. I should be judged by my brother officers.” The president heatedly interjected: “If you insult the court you will be removed and sentenced in absence.” General de Tassigny interrupted an angry argument between the judges and defence counsel, saying: “The court is illegal because it has not followed the French code, which has not been abolished even by Vichy’s illegal decrees. The crime with which I am charged is not founded on fact or law. It is useless to defend myself because the court has been ordered to condemn me.” The Vichy police arrested Jean Borotra, the famous tennis player, while trying to escape to Spain, says the Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Herald.’’ quoting the •‘Frankfurter Zeitung.” Borotra is accused of being concerned with Admiral Darlan’s flight to Africa. The Germans made Borotra French sports leader, but he is believed to have displeased them in various ways. For example, he curtailed football matches by 10 minutes on the ground that the French were insufficiently nourished to last out the full time.