"ARMY AGE" COMEDY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14712, 29 July 1921, Page 2

"ARMY AGE" COMEDY

TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS. BRITISH SOLDIER AMUSKS COURT. Sixteen British ex-soldiers have given evidence before the Supreme Court here (Leipzig) against Corporal Heynen, the first of the German war criminals brought to. trial, says a correspondent. All have testified that the accused consistently ill-treated prisoners in the camp at Heme, in Westphalia, beating them with his* lists, stick and riflebutt. One of the most important witnesses, Private Goddard, showed the Court a sear on his face, caused, he alleged, by Heynen hitting him with a bayonet. The '-.Court directed special attention to the case of the soldier Cross, who, according to several witnesses, was compelled to sland under a douche for an hour, the hot and cold water taps being turned on alternately. Afterwards Cross showed signs that his mind was affected, and it is believed he has since died, though all efforts to trace him have failed. Asked whether it'was true that he beat one of the witnesses with a-broom, the accused replied: "No; I woke him up with it," an answer which evoked from the president the comment, "That at any rate is an unusual instrument with which to arouse men." In the course of the examination of a witness named Joseph Macdonald, it transpired that he was only in the camp 12 days, the explanation being that he escaped. Veteran's "Army Ago."

Asked by the president why, he said: "Because it. was the duty of an English soldier to try to escape," a remark which caused general laughter, in which the judges joined. Another witness, who both puzzled nnd amused the Court, was Thomas Baker, a grey-haired veteran, who said he was 55 years of age, though his army papers showed him as 45. The latter, he explained, was his "military age." "' The German prosecuting counsel called a number of German witnesses, who, however, showed considerable roliin one instance much to the annoyance of the president. British Evidence Unrefuted. On the other hand little real effort was made to refute the great mass of Hie British evidence, and there is a general impression among those who followed the trial and watched the attitude of the president that the Court will find Iteynen guilty. Savage Punishment. Renter adds that the witness Maedonald, after describing his escape, related how savagely he was treated when he was brought hack lo camp. He was taken to a cell, knocked down repeatedly, and finally hurled against a table covered with medicine bottles. The tabic fell over and the bottles broke, and the fluid poured river his tiead, severely burning" him and leaving a permanent sear, which the witness showe.J.