WAR CRIMES IN JUGOSLAVIA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24899, 12 June 1946, Page 7

WAR CRIMES IN JUGOSLAVIA

General Mikhailovic On Trial MINISTERS ALSO CHARGED BELGRADE, June 10. General Draja Mikhailovic was greeted with hisses, boos, and cries of ‘You should be hanged!” when he entered the floodlit courtroom for his trial on charges of collaboration with Germany and Italy and other war crimes. Ona thousand spectators packed the Court, including journalists and photographers from 100 agencies. General Mikhailovic was dressed In ? plain brown uniform and was wearing heavy army boots. On trial with General Mikhailovic •re 24 former ministers and politicians, who are charged with collaboration •nd other crimes. All the republics and autonomous regions of Jugoslavia sent groups of observers, and arrangements have been made to give the trial the maximum publicity. Official Interpreters are translating the evidence into Enghsh. Russian, and French. The charges against General Mikhailovic are: (1) Raising a Chetnik organisation called the Jugoslav Army in the homeland. (2) Using the organisation to stifle «e struggle for liberation by the <uspslav people. <3) Committing countless war Crimea all descriptions. Allegations in the 6000-word indictment included the charge that GeneJal Mikhailovic personally commanded ‘be Chetniks against the Partisans, collaborated with the Germans and Italians since 1941, co-operated with ge quisling Neditch Government of Serbia, and approved atrocities and Measures of extermination against the Communists. There was a Partisan soldier with a ‘ommy-gun behind each defendant. General Mikhailovic listened stolidly “f the indictment was read, occasionfly stroking his thick, greying beard. “ e .pve his occupation as a “general 01 the army.” The indictment stated that when ‘w° high officers returned from Cairo King Peter’s wedding they deJ*®red a message to General Mikhaifrom a British officer. General er ton. that “he should liquidate Communists as soon as possible.” indictment also alleged that £««rican officers attended a confergct between General Mikhailovic and German commander. it also alleged that in 1941 an offenwa! gainst Marshal Tito’s Partisans .7 Planned in accordance with a mesconveyed to General Mikhailovic Cairo by a British liaison officer, Hudson.

k s ? orld Boxing Title.—The world «7 aam "Weight champion, Manuel Orsuccessfully defended his title for Sufteenth time, knocking out the Jackie Jurich, in the JJSflh round of a scheduled 15aund bout.—San Francisco, June 11.