PETAIN SILENT

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22674, 30 July 1945, Page 5

PETAIN SILENT

REFUSAL TO ANSWER LONDON, July 28 Another attempt to make Petain speak at his trial failed. The Judge, through counsel, questioned Petain, who replied to counsel: “I shall not answer/’ Counsel, announcing the reply, added aggressively: “There are too many of these incidents. I repeat once more that Petain does not want to reply and will not reply.” Michel Clemenceau, aged 72, son of “The Tiger” (Prime Minister of France in the last war), said: “Reynaud and Mandel were Germany’s principal enemies.” In ringing tones he said: “Petain surrendered them to the Germans. If my father were of this world he would be the first to beat his breast. My father made Petain a marshal. He would regret it.” Clemenceau said his doubts concerning Petain arose in 1940. He wrote to the marshal and said: “I forbid your Government to make use of my father’s name.” Three jurymen rose and said that accused heard perfectly when Clemenceau accused him of delivering Reynaud and Mandel to the Germans. He made a gesture of indignation. Counsel said that Petain heard a witness standing near, but not the Judge. Four lorries were needed to move a huge collection of photographs of British ports piled in underground vaults in Berlin. They were the property of the German Air Force and were protected by concrete walls 12ft deep.