THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 27, 27 November 1945, Page 4

THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES

IT is difficult to recognise in the humbled mein of the mjjor Nazi war criminals now in trial at Nuremburg* the braggart aristocracy of Hitler's kingdom in its heyday. Seated in the historic Court of Justice in this ancient town the men who were jointly guilty of precipitating the most horrible of all wars await their just trial. -They are being tried by the democratic means which they denied their own victims, and according to an observer, they give the appearance of a very ordinary bunch ot' people when stripped of their smart military uniforms and insignia of rank. World wide attention continues to rivet upon the proceedings, but there is popular reaction to the fact that the German leaders now being brought to book are without the heart and mind of their movement. The two arch-criminals the loud-voiced _ diminutive Hitler, and the sinister giant Himmler are missing. Justice as far as the world is concerned cannot be administered in their case. It must be remembered therefore that the men now facing trial are largely the dupes of the greater evil genius who stood at the core of the Nazi regime. Undoubtedly this will be the greatest plea put forward by the defence, but at the same time it, cannot be denied that however slight their connection collectively one and all are guilty of perpetuating and actively assisting forward the greatest doctrine of beastiality and of total war that has ever disgraced the annals of mankind.