ENEMY'S CRIMES

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1919, Page 5

ENEMY'S CRIMES

A TERRIBLE INDICTMENT. VIOLATION OF ALL LAWS AND PRINCIPLES. Received March 0, 5.5 p.m. London, March 7. Official: The sub-eominission dealing with the facts relating to the responsibility for the war and the violation of the laws of war and the principles of humanity, has submitted an interim report. It forms a terrible indictment against the enemy powers. Mr. W. F. Massey, Premier of New Zealand, was chairman of a sub-commis-sion and also chairman of its drafting committee. The sub-commission, after eliminating the weak cases, states that the lacts are sufficiently established to justify, inter alia, conclusions that, the war was premeditated by the Central Powers, together with Turkey and Bulgaria, and was the result of acts deliberately committed in order to make it unavoidable. Also that war was carried on by the Central Empires and their allies by barbarous and illegitimate methods, in violation of established laws customs of war, and elementary principles of humanity. The sub-commission enumerates the enemy's offences into over thirty separate and distinct groups, which beggar all previous calendars of crime, and have no parallel in history. The list includes: The massacre, torture, starvation, deportion, and brutal internment of civilians. Rape and abduction for enforced prostitution. Pillage, wanton destruction of leligious and historic buildings and monuments. Sudden and brutal sinking of merchant, passenger, relief, and hospital ships. The abuse of the Red Cross and flags of truce. The use of poisonous gases and explosive bullets. Poisoning wells and ill-treatment of prisoners of war.

Probably a tribunal will be set up to deal with the offenders, whose names and positions are not meantime published, for obvious reasons. TUe detailed facts represent an appalling record. The main commission has not yet made a final report. The Paris Daily Mai 1 , referring to Mr. Massey's work on the commission, says the members appieeiated his practical views of policy matters. He has a directness of method ond shrewd judg-ment,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PUNISHMENT OF THE PERPETRATORS. THE EX-KAISER ANSWERABLE. Received March 8, 5.5 p.m. Paris, March 6. The commission on enemy crimes has practically completed its report. It is understood it provides for the fullest punishment for the atrocities perpetrated against international law. Although it regards it as impossible to indict the Kais»r for atrocities, it is believed he will be answerable at trial on a charge of invading Belgium's neutrality.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.