PRISONER OF WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21156, 4 July 1940, Page 7

PRISONER OF WAR

DUTCH COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF RULES NOT OBSERVED NAZIS’ OMINOUS WARNING (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received July 4, 11 a.m.) BERLIN, July 3 The German Commander-in-Chiei » of the Netherlands announces that General Winkelman had not observed the rules laid down for military and naval demobilisation, consequently he had been removed to Germany as a prisoner of war. The function of the Dutch Com-mander-in-Chief had been abolished. LONDON, July 3 An official announcement from Amsterdam that General Winkelman has been dismissed from his post and transported as a prisoner of war to Germany occasioned no surprise in London. It follows closely the often-repeated technique which Germany adopts towards the conquered peoples, and is regarded as an earnest of the measures Germany may be expected to adopt towards individuals in other countries which have placed themselves at her disposal by entering into negotiations. In Dutch military circles in London General Winkelman enjoys a high reputation for probity and public spirit and it is believed that behind his dismissal lies a story of considerabe friction between the army of occupation and the Nether - ands people. The German announcement mentioned General Winkelman's subordinates as well as the Dutch Com-ander-in-Chief as having failed to observe the rules laid down for demobilisation, “as a result of which the orderly progress of demobilisation has been disturbed,” and adds the following ominous warning to the population as a whole: “It is In the supreme interest of the population to see to it that no further disturbance of mobilisation shall occur.”