ENEMY OF CRETE DEFENDED

Chronicle (Levin), 10 May 1946, Page 5

ENEMY OF CRETE DEFENDED

Press Assn.

BRIUDIER INGLIS CIVES EVIBENCE

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Friday, 10.25 a.m. LONDON, May 9. Brigadier Inglis, commander of the brigade on Crete, giving evidence in the defence of his former enemy, Colonel- \ General Kurt Student, at the War Crimes Tribunal in Lune- j berg, denied that the Germans used their prisoners as screens i for their attack against Crete. He also stated that the jplane which dropped a bomb on a hospital was obviously trying to hit a number of troops on the beaeh. The behaviour of the German troops on Crete indicated that there were. no organised breaches of the usages of war._ Student's counsel, after the evidence of Brigadier Inglis, decided not to call any more of his seventeen witnesses. In his evidence, Brigadier Inglis said that one German officer entered a hospital and sprayed a ward with a tommygun, and it was believed murdered Colonel Plimmer, commanding the Field Ambulance. However, it was the act of an individual who had lost his head. The New Zealand troops who escaped after their capture reported good treatment from . the German paratroops, although there were breaches when young garrison troops took over the care of prisoners. Replying to a question as to whether the German staff had not sufficient intelligence to know that the tented area was a hospital, Brigadier Inglis said: "I don't. think we could say that. To answer in the affirmative would be unfair to the defence." The closing speeches will be made to-morrow and the verdict is expected on May li.