The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-13
GERMANY WOULD
TRY WAR LORDS
Justice Schiller Declares De-
partment of Justice Would
Press Trials.
(BY FRANK MAsoN1

Berlin, Feb. lS.--Ministcr OF Jus
tice Schiller announced today that
the German department of justice
will arrest, try and punish all of the
German officers on the allies extra
ditIon list against whom It is pos
siblc to bring court proceedings, "ir-
respective OF the developments in the
negotiations now proceeding between
the allies and Germany"
Herr Schiller declared that Ger
many would press the trials OF oih-
GERS where the evidence justihes,
"oven if the allies should withdraw
their cxtradition demand" He added
that already Germany has punished
war criminals for their acts in France
and Belgium. but, like France and
England, Germany keeps secret the
executions of her soldiers"
1.-The allies and myself are both OF
the same purpose in wishing to pun
ish the guilty" said Herr Schiller.
"'The allies are proceeding arbitrarily.
while am proceeding legally. | am
positive that the extraditions are
impossible and l am equally confident
that Germany will do her utmost to
punish every guilty man.
THE law which ! drafted providing
for German supreme court at Leip-
zis to try all cases of war crimes.
whether committed in Germany or
other countries, unanimously passed
the national assembly on Dec. is.
This measure admits to the court
representatives of the allied govern
ments as prosecutors allied lawyers
and also witnesses from the allied
Nftstg YAr4tt tl,a.I
prosecutor in the supreme court at
Leipzig to act upon the receipt of
the allied list and to examine all the
names upon it. He has been ordered
further to review all the German Of
fetal records bearing on the cases
in question and prepare indictments.
Even should the allies withdraw
their demand for extraditions we will
proceed with the matter and try
every case listed where we have
available evidence. The allies cam
not say that our action is too late, |
for they have previously refused our |
request for the names and the tes- |
timony they had In their possession,
I'VE have already punished nu-
merous war criminals for their acts |
in northern France and Belgium. but, |
like France and England. Germany
does not publish the executions of |
her soldiers, But | have ordered |
these cases collected and II It Is nee
essary ! shall show the evidence to |
the entente.
"The allied list is technically i'm
possible. .It nias arbitrarily. super
ficially and frlkolouAly drawn. 1t is
a rnockery af 5datice: .nslther precise
nor specific as to acts nor persons
involved"
Herr Schiller here referred TO the |
original list which he has In his pcs !
session. He continued:
For instance. here is Mai. Won
Bredow charged with murder, but IL |
does not say whom, how or whore. |
When International law Is invoked to |
secure a man for trial for his crimes,
he cannot be extradited when only |
tho gen term murder is charged |
hgalns' In legal usage every
wherf rs the right To know /
the ne charge against him |
so pare for his defense"
Usage everywhere man |
sht to know the details of |
Se against him so he can |
for his defense"
correspondent was permitted |
dnce through the official HIST |
Paris. IL contained charges of |
age, theft, murder and cruelty. In |
1me cases there was lack of de- |
tails and in many instances no name |
was given.