Evening star., 1943-05-16

one wall there was large portrait of
Hitler. There were two dogs, one at
each door. Behind the desk was a Ger
man SIS officer, typical Prussian, brutal
and terrifying. I was pushed over to
the desk. This man cried 'achtung,
and all the German guards clicked their
heels together.
Now you are going to confess, you
pro-English swine These were the first
words flung at me- Then the interroga-
ton began These interrogations can
last up to Is hours at time. Four
Germans relieve each other at fixed in
tervals. The accused must stand
throughout the interrogation, while the
Germans continually move about. They
appear. restless and nervous. You are
to be broken by screams, shouted orders
and sharp, binding light. They focus
strong beam of light on you. They
use the most terrifying threats. They
tempt you with large sums of money,
good positions, mild sentences.
Break Down in Torture.
IF after a long period of interroga-
ton they have not got anything out OF
prisoner, he is put either into dark cell
or hot cell. The dark cell is in the
cellar, little cold room equipped only
with a small wooden STOOL At certain
intervals two German soldiers enter.
One of them holds the prisoner while
tho 0thor Hirontc cfr IrL
face. All the time they scream that you
must confess. BY degrees you collapse
THE hot cell is little cupboard built
into the wall and there is just enough
room for one man. Rings are put under
your arms TO hold you when you faint.
In the ceiling there is little ventila-
ton hole, while the heat pours in
through the floor. Alter while, YOU will
lose consciousness.
IN the torture rooms on the third
and fourth floors the treatment is even
more devilish. They are large rooms
where no daylight can enter The walls
are covered with soundproof material
and in the ceiling there are large lamps
which can be regulated On one wall
there is a portrait of Hitler and on the
opposite wall one of Himmler. The room
is in half darkness.
"One can see the guards in the back
ground like shadows, immovable, at at
tention. The only one who speaks is
one OF the torturers. He goes constantly
backward and forward, to and fro. and
in his hand is either a stick or a revolver.
The man met there seemed melancholy.
almost despairing, and talked lot about
the homeland or Schubert. Suddenly,
ne attacked me with full fury. Before I
had even said word he hit and kicked
me until lost consciousness. When
regalned consciousness the light in the
ceiling was switched. on and its glaring
beams poured into my eyes. Then it
began all over again. The torturers al
ternately struck out at me and screamed
for confession"
In spot outside Norway there sits a.
strange court. Presiding is one of the
most eminent of former Norwegian
judges. Members Of the court are some
OF the ablest members of the Norwegian
bar. All are refugees. Before this court
are brought men who have been through
the Oslo torture chambers, or subjected
to other Gestapo brutalities, and who
have afterward escaped.
Trial Is in Correct Form.
Complaints are drawn up in correct
legal form against individual Gestapo
officers. The refugees are called as wit
nesses before the court. There deposi-
tions are taken. There is an attorney for
the defense who cross examines them.
Stories of two or three witnesses to the
same offense are recorded. No witness
knows what others have testified The
testimonies are checked for discrepancies.
The devils advocate" is alert to catch
any conflicting details On the basis Of
such trials the judge, in due legal fash
ion, passes upon. the guilt or innocence,
and the degree of guilt, of the men,
both Germans and Norwegian followers
OF Quisling-who are being tried In abb
sentia,
Sentences are being deferred until the
accused themselves can be brought into