Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-15
Ma|medyProbeRepo
Cites German Efforts
To Revive Naziism
by the Assceiotsd Press

Senate Investigators have closed
the books on the Malmedy mas
sacre probe with a warning that
powerful groups in Germany were
exploiting the protests over Amer
lean handling Of Nazi war crimes
trials in an effort to revive Ger
man nationalism.
Declaring that this presents
dangerous possibilities" threaten
ing future peace. they also urged
an immediate two-pronged in
quiry by the Defense and Justice
Departments to determine:
/. If this alleged move to re-
kindle the Nazis' nationalistic
aims lis part Of a larger plan to
bring parts of Germany into closer
relationship with the Soviet
Union"
2. Whether or not activities are
being carried on in this country
which are Of such q nature as to
discredit and injure American
prestige and our public interest
in Germany ="
Highlights Of Report.
+ These were highlights of a &c.
page report late yesterday by q
Senate Armed Services subcom-
mittee on its lengthy hearings
here and abroad on the way the
Army handled the Malmedy trial.
The three-man group made the
investigation after Congress re-
Fceiyed protests that the military
prosecutors and Investigators used
brutal methods to obtain confess
sions from the Nazi Storm Troopers
accused of killing $50 unarmed
American soldiers and 100 Bel
gian civilians during the Battle of
the Bulge in December, 1914.
A military war crimes court con-
victed 70 German soldiers in this
case and AZ were given death SEN
fences and the rest long prison
terms. Lesser penalties, however,
were imposed after q series Of re-
views Of the trial.
Senator Baldwin, Republican, Of
Connecticut, chairman Of the in
vestigating group, said they found
no credible evidence of "beatings,
kickings. torture and other phys
zeal brutality" as some witnesses
had charged at the hearings here.
But he went on to say that they
had found that some unethical
methods had been used, such as
preliminary mock trials" which
they sharply criticized.
False Charges Cited.
The report laid special stress on
the spreading Of what it termed
obviously false charges" by per-
sons in this country and in
Germany.
mo matter what the facts were
in the case," Senator Baldwin
said. lin the minds Of q great
many Americans and practically
all Germans, the allegations were
accepted as fact"
On this score the committee
sharply criticized Judge Edward
L. Van Roden of Pennsylvania,
a former Army colonel who took
part in one Of the Malmedy re-
view trials, and the National
Council for the Prevention Of
War.
The report said most Of the
false charges had been widely
publicized in this country and
Germany through the media Of
the publications and speeches of
Judge Van Roden" and the anti
war organization.
Judge Van Roden has shown
very poor judgment in publicizing
such statements without cor
roborating the facts" Senator
Baldwin commented as he read
the report.
AS for the anti-war council, he
said 1t had maintained q con-,
slant correspondence with certain
people in Germany" and that its
activities in this matter, which
60 far beyond the Malmedy case,
have been most damaging to the
national interests of our country,
and to the cause Of peace"
Baldwin Questioned.
Senator Mccarthy, Republican,
Of Wisconsin, who previously had
charged that the Armed Services
Committee inquiry would result
in % whitewash Of Army officials"
asked numerous questions Of Sen
ator Baldwin during the lengthy
report on the Senate floor yester-
day.
Senator Mccarthy, although
not q member Of the Armed
Services Committee, took part In
the initial subcommittee hearings
In this country. He finally
walked out when other Senators
rejected his demand that. wit.