PLEADS GUILTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 16, 19 January 1946, Page 5

PLEADS GUILTY

AIR OFFICER’S CASE SENSATIONAL TURN IN COURT-MARTIAL DISPOSAL OF LIQUOR

Recd. 8.10 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 18. The court-martial ot acting GroupCaptain Clive Robertson Caldwell took a sensational turn to-day, when he declared, on being asked to plead on the second of four charges: “In view of the adverse finding of Hie Court on tile first charge, and of the similarity of the charge just read, I will plead gu.lty.” He said he realised this was tantamount to an admission ot having engaged in the selling o, liquor, and to conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. After hearing evidence on the first charge, lhe Court this morning went into camera for 75 minutes to consider its verdict. It resumed without mentioning its decision, which is the usual procedure if the defendant is found guilty. After Caldwell's plea, a summary of evidence relating to the second charge was read by the Judge Advocate. The charge concerned the selling of liquor through a leading aircraftman. Evidence on two further charges is yet to be heard.

Caldwell, who is a leading air ace in the Australian Air Force, was brought before the court-martial on four charges alleging illegal sale of liquor on Morotai. The hearing began yesterday, and was resumed to-day. Allegatians of extensive illicit trading in liquor on Morotai between November, 1944, and February, 1945, were groundless, said Air Commodore A. IL Cobby, former air officer commanding the Ist Tactical Air Force. Cobby was Australia's highest scoring fighter pilot of World War I, with 32 victories. Cobby said he knew that small quantities of liquor had been brought in by Kittyhawks, and his own plane had brought three cases of beer for private consumption. That was f or a send-off to officers going in the task force to Tarakan. He had organised strikes on the Tanimbar Islands be-, cause of barge traffic and 25,000 Japanese there. The sweeps had an operational value and were not designed to bring liquor from Darwin. The aircraft were not stripped of armament or ammunition at Darwin. There was no need to use Kittyhawks for the transport of liquor, and there was no need for an excuse, as at that time an order forbidding the transport at liquor in service machines had not been received. While in command he took continuous action to prevent trading in liquor.

Evidence for the defence concluded with the calling of other officers testifying to the high order of discipline in Caldwell's wing.