Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-19
MihaiIovich Accused
10 Face by Former
Chetnik Lieutenant
By William B. King
Assoeioted Press Foreign Correspondent

BELGRADE, June 19.-Gen.
Draja Mihailovich and a Chetnik
lieutenant, pinch-faced Milo
Glistic, faced each other in a
dramatic courtroom scene today
and gave conflicting testimony
on the extent of Gen. Mihailo-
vich's blame for collaborating
with the enemy and fighting
Marshal Tito's Partisans.
Once again, the generals lawyer
renewed his request to call Amer
lean witnesses for the defense of
the underground leader, but the
court rebuffed him coldly.
Among the witnesses which the
defense requested again were Wal
ter Mansfield, New York lawyer;
1t. George Musulin of Pittsburgh,
first American officer to parachute
to Gen. Mihailovich's headquarters,
and Nick Lalic They and the
others were identified as former
American liaison officers and
aVlators.
Mihailovich Denies Charge.
When Gen. Mihailovich and Glis-
tic stood facing each other, the
younger man repeated testimony
that Gen. Mihailovich personally
ordered his unit in Sandjak to CO.
operate with enemy occupation
forces through the puppet govern
ment of Milan Medic, and that Gen.
Mihailovich personally ordered the
first Chetnik attack against Marshal
TltoS PartlsanS.
1T is not true" Gen. Mihailovich
said.
Tito now is Premier of the Yugo-
slaV government which replaced the
regime of King Peter whom Gen.
Mlhallovlch served as War Minister
and commander in chief during the
period that he was recognized as the
tlrSt important underground fighter
during the war.
GllStlc testified that previous to
the Chetnik attack on the Partisans
at Ulce, Gen. Mihailovitch met his
officers and gave them go ahead"
and then added that he, in the
future, would disclaim responsibility
for the action.
The technique of ordering wit
neSSeS who have been Offering con-
f1lcting testimony to confront each
other has become a standard pro-
Ceedlng before the three-man court.
At the moment of meeting, tech
nlclanS snap on flood light, movie
cameras grind and photographers
snap still pictures. But so far this
has caused no witness to change
his story.
News Coverage Facilitated.
Approximately rs foreign cor
respondents are in Belgrade to cover
the trial of Gen. Mihailovich and
others charged with wartime COL
liberation with the enemy
This correspondent has found no
bar to free and unhindered coverage
OF the trial. Government ministries,
the court and neWspapermen of Bel
grade have joined to make the job
as easy as possible.
American, British, Russian.
French, Chinese, Polish and Danish
correspondents who are reporting
the trial alongside YugoSlav jour-
nalists are provided with a large.
Well-placed press section. Earphone
TRANSACTIONS are given in English.
French or Russian.
Special facilities provided for cor
respondents include large press
room provided with typewriters, pa
per, carbon paper and a bulletin
board, where details concerning per-
sonalltles named in the proceedings
are posted. Also available is a spe-
cial branch of the post office for
quick filing of dispatches, which
are taken swiftly to the cable outlet
by courier. and daily bus which
takes correspondents to and from
the scene of the trial, about a half
hour run from the center of Bel
grade
Minor Case of Interference.
The persons assigned at the court
to assist the press are pro-partisan
and anti-Mihailovich, as is every
one IN official Yugoslav life. This
may exert subtle influence. but
l doubt 1t. All the correspondents
working on this story seem mature
enough to take care of themselves.
The only thing even approaching
interference that this correspond |
ent has experienced was an obser-
walton of Ministry of Information |
official in which he disapproved the
handling of the story the day Gen.
Mlhailovich admitted collaboration.
This writer replied that he con-
sldered the construction of his story
proper one, and the matter was
dropped there. The observation was
based on a telegraphed report on
the press from the Yugoslav embas-
sy in Washington There was no
indication that the official who
was an old friend, was acting in an
official capacity.
The only factors, actually. limit