Evening star., 1941-08-30
Sympathy in Favor
0flaVaI Assassin
Grows in France
Former Vice Premier's
Condition Is Worse;
Operation Put OFF
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
VICHY, Unoccupied France, Aug
3o.-Sympathy for Paul Colette
youthful De Gaullist who attempted
to assassinate Pierre Laval this
week, became evident today even as
the wounded politician lay fighting
for his life.
In response to sentiment in favor
of Colette, the Anti-Soviet Legion,
which Laval was sponsoring when
he was shot, decided to back Laval's
gesture in asking that Colette be
treated with clemency.
Furthermore, latest editions of
the newspapers of German-o
Paris were much milder in attacks
on Colette than they had been, and
some even defended him.
At the same time, letters and tele-
grams of condolences for Laval con-
tinued to pour into the Versailles
hospital where he remained in grave
condition. After slight rally last
night, during which his temperature
dropped and plans for an operation
were held in allegiance, his condition
was aggravated this morning. A
morning bulletin did not mention
the temperature.
Examination of Colette by a
magistrate was delayed pending a
more thorough investigation of his
connections in Marseille and other
French towns.
Germans Executed Eight.
It was disclosed today that a Ger
man firing squad - not French as
previously reported-had executed
eight men yesterday for espionage
and activity against German occu-
patton authorities.
Furthermore. the victims, includ-
ing a French count and a Neither
lander. had been sentenced by a
German military court and not by
the special French ti-Communist
court, as first reported.
Three of the eight, including
Naval 1t. Count Henri dEStienne
DorbeS and a Dutch citizen named
Jean Doornik, were executed for
espionage. The other five were
condemned for activity against Ger
man occupation authorities.
The eight men shot to death yes
terday brought to II the total num-
Der executed since the attempt on
Javal's life Wednesday.
In one of the most sweeping meas
ures of the drive against possible
sources of the growing opposition
to French collaboration with Ger
many, all Jews of the occupied terri
tory were ordered today to turn over
to police their radio receiving sets.
But German-French repression is
being directed more and more
against De Gaullist Free FRENCH
elements in opposition with German
Intervention. This opposition itself
has become increasingly marked.
Question of Trial Disputed.
The growing sentiment favoring
Colette manifested itself in several
ways. The question of whether he
was to have regular trial. with
full legal prerogatives, became
subject of controversy as an an
nouncement that he would be tried
by the summary anti-Communist
court met with unfavorable reac-
ton.
This announcement was made by
fernand de Brinon, Vichy Ambas-
sador to the occupied zone, and the
examining magistrate in the occu-
pied zone made it clear today that
M. de Brinon's announcement had
no official status and that decision
had not yet been reached.
The usually violent Nouveaux
Temps of German-occupied Paris
fatty pointed out that "in terms of
the law of August 2 Csetting up the
new snti-Communist COURTS only
individuals indicted for Communist
or anarchist activity can be turned
over to the special section of the
Paris appellate court"
The paper added that if Colette
Is not so indicted he must be tried
in the Versailles Court of Assizes
with regular procedure and delay
that may run up to a month.