ESSEN TRAGEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 11

ESSEN TRAGEDY.

THE KRUPP SENTENCES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z Cable Association. LONDON, May 9The majority of the London newspapers received the news of the Krupp sentences too late for comment. The “Daily Chronicle' 5 says: “The sentences fairly take one's breath away. Solemnly to pretend that tlie blame for the massacre is on the side of the massacred is to challenge, not merely the feelings of Germany, but the conscience of all the world. How can peace tor Europe and security for France, for civilisation, or for mankind, he compatible with suoh course? ?*' 'Phe “ Daily Express's ” Berlin correspondent reports that the sentences have aroused general indignation. Dr Sorgo. president of the Union of Industrialists, and Krupps’e Berlin representative. declares: “It i* now impossible for German industrialists to co-operate with the French. The sentence is an indignity.” CLOSING SCENES OF TRIAL. By Telegraph—Pr-vis Association—r!opyri*ht “ The Times ” Service. BERLIN. May 6. The full list of the sentences at the Krupp trial is as follows: —Herr Krupp and his fellow directors, Osterlen and Hartwig. fifteen years’ imprisonment and a nne of 100,000.000 marks; Bruhu. ten years and a fine of 100,000,000 marks : -Mueller, a member , of the Workers’ Council, six months. These were present at the trial The following were absent: —Bauer, Schaeffer, Ku-nt*. and Schraepler. These were sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment, and fined 100,000,000 marks. Groos, the head of the apprentices, was sentenced to ten years, and fined 50,000.000 marks. The closing scene? of the trial at Worden were marked by intense excitement. The whole neighbourhood of the courthouse was guarded by French troops, the market place being occupied bv cavalry and tanks, as the French feared that an effort might be made to rescue Herr Krupp. In his final evidence, Herr Krupp admitted that his firm received official instructions from Berlin regarding the lines on which resistance should be earned on, which were the same as the whole German nation received. Captain Du vert, in a bitter closing speech for the prosecution, insisted that Herr Krupp’s personal responsibility was incontestable. “The Germans are disciplined people, who never act on their own initiative.” declared Dnvert, adding that the order tor t»ie attack or. the little group of ten French soldiers came from Berlin, and was issued by the Krupp firm itself. .Some thousands of disguised police agents took part in the attack. “Imagine how these great Krupp chiefs remained motionless in their board room while thousands of their employees were threatening these ten French soldiers with death. Imagine their smile, when they peeped down on the spectacle from their windows. Vie saw the same smile during the war. Their generals displayed it when the German troops tv ere burning French villages and massacring the inhabitants. The bands of these men,' 5 Dnvert concluded dramatically, “are red with the blood of their own workman and with the French blood that flowed that day.” . Maitro Moriaud, the famous Swiss; international lawyer, in an impassioned speech on behalf of Herr Krupp, maintained. with a wealth of argument that the charges were not supported by a single fact. , , f A sensation followed when -VI. Duvert rose and said that seven person-- were to he tried in Dusseldorf on the following day, who had already admitted that they belonged to a society whose purpose was to murder persons objectionable to Germany. These persons declared that they received nav in the Krupp building from an ex officer, who was once a Krupp engineer. Amidst the amazement, of the people in the courthouse, who were accustomed to the procedure of other countries, M nitre Moriaud sprang up and protected against the statement, adding. “ Anyone who said that is guilty of a lie." Raising hi* voice, Maitre Moriaud concluded: Ton call this justice ! In the name of France, in the name of Franc©-, I say, ‘ Render jus- | tice R ” j The court agreed upon Krupp’s and | Brulin's sentences by a majority only. ! namely, three to two. The decision in j the other cases was unanimous. Krupp and his co-directors will be taken to a French prison. THE BRITISH REPLY. LONDON. May 9. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomaticcorrespondent ways that the British replv to the German Note will probably bo handed to the German Ambassador in London on Thursday or Friday. Its criticism ot the German offer is severe, but it will not take sides on the "Ruhr question. Regret may be expressed •; that Britain’s advice has not been more j fully acted upon.