1956-05-05 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1956.

Communism In Concluding THE VENGEANCE OF PRIVATE POOLEY

Convulsions

By MAURICE MANNING

THE impact of Mr "suspicion, terror and fear," in

Krushchev's denuncia- the three years

death?

since Stalin's

Bocked

rights of the Individual ano mubjected to the needs of the State, the influence of the police network perineates every mapect o dally lite in the Soviet Union.

tion of Stalin was I still has the most powerful more violent in the Soviet secret police organisation the Union than in the outside world has ever known. world. The Russian people by legal system in which the were suffering the destruc tion of a creed; elsewhere, after initial surprise at the timing and magnitude of the exposure, it was seen as confirmation of the truth of past assessments of life be. hind the Iron Curtain.

Mr Krushchev chose the XXth Congress of the Soviet Com- munist Party in February 1958 to cast his bombshell. He told of terrible your

of all th muggesting the

Statio while he ably orved and received his benefaeliotis

his fact opposed to he was footer's policy. If this were so, he acted his part superbly.

Denigration

i precesting regime is not new in Communist politica, Stalin himself TC- pudiated Trotsky and hounebed

Ja

new

previous JAL

Denigration of F11 regime

not Communist politios, writes Manning. **Stalin himmelf

repadlated

Trotsky

bounded him

and

to his death.

រង

Baithe

its head is General Serov, the mau responsible for the deportations from the States and for the obliteration of many other peoples. He sent rounds to death in the wastes of Siberia and Central Asia. And it was he who supervised the mployment of slave labour in the Volga o canal

Have the forced labaar vaunpo heen emplted" Have the people Suy in their

KUVITIL-

" Are tree contacts allow ed with the outsile world? the Communist Krip satellites any less crippling”

no

I The

There เส

fundamental change. The ruthless regine which iropt Stalm in power still exists, behind the blind smules and honeyed phrases of "colive- tive leadership

Sunate

Me

Pooley (centre)

and O'Callaghan at WAR CRIMES

the Hamburg trial.

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adapted from the book by CYRIL JOLLY

A TWITCHING FACE CONDEMNS KNOECHLEIN

Under cross -

examination his composure began to wilt, his eyes to blink, his face to twitch. The S.S. officer who could not control the muscles of his face when he became excited was at bay

THE STORY the

paased. But it was an important and he should day in his life, have been able to remember. Ho know what he had been do- ing all the rest of the day, be cause he had two special reasons for remembering.

SO

FAR

MOR six days the British war crimes court in Hamburg has listened to Ho is charged with

the murder of British prisoners of war at Le Paradis, in the north of France, in May 1940. Out of 99 officers and mon of the Royal Norfolk Regiment who were shot down in a field by Goṛmon machine guns, only two mon survived--Albert Pooley and William O'Callaghan, Poolay, who was

comrades. Because

to Le Paradis in 1946

badly wounded,

one

would believe

to

vowed

his avengo their story ha roturned

по

to establish the dotails of the crime. An official investigation followed his visit, and the trial of Knoechloin opened on

October 11, 1948.

This was the fatal period when a British officer who had been able closing speech for the

the prisoners were butchered.

If Knocchioin was not in the meadow, planning the massacre, ordering the guns to fire, where was

he? His answers were

extremely vague.

He was forced to admit that he had been very near the scene of the shooting. Yet he claimed he had heard nothing about it until the next day. and then only vaguo rumours, Lt Vas supposed to be a reprisal for alleged irregularities Ал the British methods of fighting.

captured at Le Parodia the same battle.

during defence, pleking out all the dis- cropanoles he could find in the prosecution's case, but Mr T. Field-Fisher, for the prosecu- tlon showed how damning the evidence really was.

head-

Captain Charles William Long had been the Norfolks' battalion adjutant in 1940. The quarters building had been hit by a shell during the fighting, The Judge Advocate summed up on the twelfth day of the and Captain Long was wounded

He went outside trial, and the count adjourned. in the head. and collapsed. When he come

When

re-assembled, the round he was lying in a ditch, accused man rose from his seal Two of his men pulled him on. in the dock and looked Germans were there tommy-guna.

WyTag

with to the

dals upon which president slood.

Deross

the

The president looked at the man in the dock, and in a grave, voice. said: "The measured court finds you guilty of crime which of charged."

the

you have been

Dr Unde sald: "May it please the court, there still remains my last task-to call evidence of

Knoechlein said he reported these irregularities to the batte-

and lion commander some rounds of dum-dum am- munition which had been found by his men.

Three times

the prosecuting

my client's character,” him if he felt counsel asked

the character Among

Wit- singer or resentment at the way

nesses was an S.S. General. Karl

Knoechlein since 1983. "He was Wolff, who said he had known

He knew

the

was The treatment meted our by the Germans?" Captain Long was asked, and he

In

two words →→ replied: included extremely good."

His reply underlined the tragic brony of the events on that fatal afternoon, The Rue du boundary twitch counsel, Knocchieln's composure

For it came out in court that

Paradis formed between two German battalions. Questions

the was among were May 27, 1940, was the first day

Captain Long bring begun to with.

prisoners who were taken kd wwhich Te could not and it had been very severe the

tion. Losses in the company

Pooley, O'Callaghan, had been heavy, Knoechiein told have fought. Each time Knoech collected on the opposite side of

but the rood. During a respite in lein made a lille speech, the fighting, they had collected would not atwwer yes or no. In und the others who remained in the end, he maid he felt their and buried their dead,

were incorreol. He that ins unit had been in action methods

TG- Kroechlein made funeral would not admit to either

scalment or anger, oration.

NERVOUS helped 10 Knoechlein HendFishi

to

It was

In

answer,

Mr

Krushchev is reported to have sold that Stalin was ruled by

Xu of persections incriminating detail in the

Dr Unde Yet mania and grows conceit. at the XIXth Party Congress, in portrait of a guilty man, a portrait which became more Today Stalin ...

and more vivid as day fol- bay has been desanctified

lowed day in the ...and

crowded with charged

numerous

Hamburg courtroom. crimes, from murder down- warda

Manning points however, that la spita and of the "bland miles

out,

bonored phrases of 'colleo- tive leadership'," there is no fundamental change in the Communist outlook. "The ruthless regimo which kept Stalin in power still exists,

him to his death Ultimately thousands were slaughtered to make sure that no vestige of the old leader's influence remained. Stalin would brook sequent opposition nad, numerous purges, EL ALLIA of omniscience enveloped him.

[AJ sil

#

Today he has been descUsed by + trusted colleague, and charged with numerous crimes, from murder downwur:ts. Mr Krushchev pecans to have over- looked the fact that if he succeeds in destroying the Stalinist legend he will as surely condern himself.

Ile is reported to have recused Stalin of cowardice during the war. At one stage of the speech members cried: "Why didn't you kul him?" Among the strong, resolute and often unscrupulous men whom Stain was said 12)

K have terrorised were those the head of the Services, the Palies, and the Party. They were, Kashchev

at

out, all afrai of losing their lives.

October 1052 K Krushchev was able to declare; "Long ve the wise femier the

people, Party of the mapirer and orgmiser of all our victories, Comrade Stalin."

Mr Krushchev differs

Stalta

the

Was

Khorehjain LA at collected enough when he enter-

witness-box

the the least one respect from his dis-ed

Master

was seventh day of his tal "Did condid in his contempt for the you ever suffer From a twitch he was asked by free world, Mr Krushchev pro- for the face?" claums his desire for friendstup Dr Unde, the defence counsel. with it.

Retryone in cart remember- No responsible sudesman to-ed the dramatic evidence of the day would coject any overture, old Frenchwoman who had been however phrased, which pro-threatened, while the knelt in mised step along the path to the mud, by a German officer twitching face, Bul pence. But it is obviously im-with portant to understand what is Knocchlein's muscles were well ment by the friendship of the under control when he answer-

"No." Suviet Union. What is true to- fedt.

Later. under the tuy may be false tomorrow.

(COPYRIGHT)

examination of the

Then the prisoner's eyes began to blink and his face to twitch. The SS. officer, who could not control the muscles of his face and when he became excited, was at

"His defence was a dental of everything. He had not worn a peaked cap on but a steel beinet und later

He had never seen forage cup.

Castel, fur k Madaine

He had never threatened her. been at the scene of the crime.

فا

the British

were supposed

10

the fatal day, penembering May 27 wus that it coum to know I was a profes-

Fatal period

Why then should Theodor a machine-gun section Emke, conmander in his own battalion, testify that he had seen Knotch-

Knoechlein Join there!

could

so

The other reason he had for

was his birthday. The battalion commander came to congratulate kiz.

could be Knocchlein precise about all this, why was be so vague about his movements the fighting between the time died down and the time le met his battalion commander at a crossroads near the church

about half a mile Le Paradis, away"

According to his own evidence, not engaged Iris company was in any lighting after about pm. He met the battalion com- mander "in the late afternoon,"

Before Knoechlein returned to the dock he said: "I want the

sional commissioned soldier with I have many years' experience.

to accept always been trained

Nome of my responsibility. officers or NCOs was concerned in this matter."

Evidence

Two corporals in Knocchlein's company were called to give bul- evidence about dum-dum lets, evidence which was vugue And then a in the extreme.

Into strange thing happened. the witness box, to give evid- slepped ence for the defence, years

think of no Nason.

But if Knoechlein was not in the field of murder when the prisoners were shot, where was he? prosecaling

eight

had

Cross-

True.

FIRST OF A NEW SATURDAY FEATURE

SALES TALK

SHOULD have known feeble protests. "So many pretty better than to visit the trinkets and really useful things ...all that's need-

on the stall

fete at all, but Mully ed is a 1tle sales talk." said we ought to drop in

She beamed at my wife. "Your husband for a few minutes. Drop in

50 willy IN he'll be sold out was right. I dropped right and amusing.

unable

ut n

2

LIFE WITH ALLEN

He

or

nics young man.

The question brought a flush to Knoechléin's face... ..and

violent n

outburst.

Gerald Allen really does exist, and his stories are always good for a hearty laugh. They are simply exaggerated accounts of episodes in his own life. Many will see them- the form, fell in the hands of how to behave in public, and was popular and a good com- selves in these stories and smile all the more because Koechlein's company.

Knoechlein appeared again in rude,” "practically the same thing happened to me last week."

this true colours on the tenth When the last witness had

Left alone and quite

"I don't want the rubbish," he presented to the lete committee day of the trial. He made a very Anished Dr Unde stood up ogain. different Impression from the "All that left for me to say by the Association for the

may cool, calm, collected offloer he is that some little doubt to visualise myself as witty and sneered.

Dr any ki

**Pay up, or

the Betterment ['ll call

of Anglo-American amusing

had made himself out to be. huve remained in the minds of success. I surveyed the stall with police," I hissed, encered Relations, Dental Section."

who Colonel Scotland,

had the court which will enable the distaste amounting

nausea, again. to

Surfelled with information,

the conducted

investigation, arembera not to award the ex- a case vt There was

sluffed

I she reeled away with the neck-

said that Knoechlein mado no treme permality. Spare the life of a lo:

thinking the birds, some waxed fruit.

reference to the use of dum- the accused. He has a wife and threatened. my blood at fever lace and Nelson, china, come

dum bulleta while heat. At that, he went limp with latter was a picture of Gumbo's

under four children who are depend- 1 let her have examination at the London Dis- ent upon him for support. Con- terror, and I sold him the birds last moments and the wax fruit at ten shill- both for

thirty shillings

Arict Cage. Knoechlein was now sider also the fact that he is a sacrifice at the price, but the ings the lot.

stock had to be cleared, and asked why he had refused to soldier."

the make a written statement when At 3 pm, October 25, I was as well to complete the bar-

he was first taken there.

court re-assembled. The prest- gain while the customer

dent commanded: "March in the under emotional stress.

accused."

terrible in no time. I've brought along of ROSS new nakes in. Within five minutes. I few things

that we use at strings of bends, a set of bag an assortment of kettie found myself in charge of a home for charades. He'll be the pipes,

holders, a large teddy bear, sort of white elephant stall success of the afternoon."

large framed copy of "The Death Treasure "The called

a smoking of Nelson," an even larger one

of "Bubbles," Chest." because poor

Wise

taking it Mrs Grey.

over.

old

transform me dealer in amiques, and

I'll call the vicar's wife.”

success,

Mr Krushchev cotulemused

Lightheaded with Stalin's purges. Yet nine months.

She handed me uld cap

and a telescope disposed of a lot of goes by in- ofter his death, Berin (head of

and u Jong false beard, that it was unpossible to see troducing a sporting system-a the dreaded police apparatus) Mrs Grey hadn't felt up to which were apparently going to through. These were the plek of penny a time, tossing double or u genuine the goods displayed; the bulk quits, at which broke just

stood

re- about even. And after furtively was made up of the most over me while I arranged my pulsive latter ever seen.

signing "Botticelli" in the corn- face inside them. I dared not

er of "Bubbles," I sold it to refuse; the vicur's wife is really

nice American who is staying with the

and Parkers-eleven and looks

and many of his adherents were executed. A

Inter the yenr execution of Abakumov, former head of the political police, was announced. In November 1955 six senior Georgian offlelaist and many of their supporters met n similar fate.

girl

was

1

No reply

Business was so brisk that

Knoechlein was brought into gave Armago's Lutle boy alx-

The question brought a flush the court and stood facing the pence to take the bagpipes. I've to his face and a violent out- president. never liked Armitage.

He said, burst

"I personally The president pronounced the Unfortunately, the child form and a number of my comrades fatal words: "Fitz Knoechlein, ed the opinion that everything were tortured in the cage in 1 the court sentences you to death THE very man for the job!" a tough sergeant-major dressed

on the stall was tree, and re- most brutal and gruesome by hanging" in women's tweeds, vicar's wife, quite espable boomed the

tured with several Hittle fashion, and refusing to make a As he heard the sentence, tho tearing my new blazer off my fourteen days in the glasshouse.

of handing out My first customer was a small six for a single sale!

She with adenoids.

friends. They started powing written statement was the only dace of the accused turned grey, How much has changed in the back and handing me, a moth-

After this

business the valuable SUCCESS

goods I had

displayed means at my disposal by which But he gave no other sign. A Communist bloc, this isolatect caten old velvet jacket.

With a few more exhortations wanted a birthday card.

shickened off until a large lady, and I was just whacking their I hoped to be heard by a higher Military Policeman touched him and, being badly out- world which

to work like anything and not mone Mr

in flowered chintz, knuckles with Krushchev

"Dressed for the part,

upholstered

the telescope authority. My personal com- and you'll be a naughty man, she bore off pointed in a long argument with toomed up and demanded

ho turned and would have us believe is now take pounds and pounds,"

the when old Grey tottered up. plaint was made to Colonel court. gave her the teddy being delivered from a reign of roared,

my wife to view the other de- the child,

price of the necklaces,

The wife sent me along to Scotland.. brushing aside

result but the only bear to got rid of her,

torture "They

became answered, give a hand," he burbled. vary," I

was that the Then an irritating old man spreading my hands and shrug-

WOTEC,!"" with thirst for knowledge

However, at his second visit, The sentence of hanging was started pestering me as to the ging in a manner that seemed to me to go well with the beard.

the treatment was good and he carried out by the British garri- identity or breed of the stuffed "This one is three guineas, and FRANTICALLY, unhooked then made a written statement. con at Hamburg on Jammry 28,

"Why did you ther

not 1049,

she

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birds.

"A nightingale, a martingale,

left the

The keepsake

the whiskers and hung them a bargain at the price."

on his face, banged the smoking- say anything about the dum-dum Albert Pooley, the Southall "Preposterous!" "Not when you know its story, cap on his head and draped the ammunition?""The

way

the post office worker, still treasures snatched my conversation little it is composed entirely of human jacket about him,

from a would-be Colonel Scotland had such teeth, cummingly strung together new blazer

a farthingale, and a bittern," i

told him plucking up a fighting spirit.

"Never hear of a bittern." "It booms.

"What kind of a boom?"

was handled

by

મા

0

Nobby's lighter, the keepsake ho took from the pocket of his on a length of Indian hemp, customer, who was offering me conciliatory effect upon me that murdered friend when he lay h and went I did not think it would be the murder pit on May 27, 1940. attractively coloured by a secret two shillings for it,

this But the lighter de no longer process

only to the in search of my wife.

to deal with known

necessary matter in detail. I also feared reproach to him that nothing "A booming kind of a boom. Wackos.

"Slout work," bellowed the

that the

done to "Revolting!"

bring the treatment has been gruesome clock: No need for an alarm

criminal to justice. It is a re- when there's a bittern In the

"On the contrary. The teeth vicar's wife, as I handed her would be resumed.

percent. of Gumbo, my takings, less...ten

"Your behaviour at the Lon- minder that, over the long, pain- house-it will boom punctually are-were-those

not above Te racked years, a British private at any hour desired. It has a the faithful black Mamba ser- "I've been hearing how simply don Cage was

proach, was [1?" asked the pro- boldler kept faith with his dead

comrades. secuting counsel.

Knocchlein did not reply. Counsel then spoke of Kñoech- the lein's

general language und behaviour while in London. "Were you in fact paraded before the whole cage und pub- Colonel lely reprimanded by Scotland?"—"Yes,"

"Where are you off to?" asked Molly.

Dr Livingstone, who splendid you've been," mondant sense of humour, how- vant of ever, and will frequently boom refused to betray his master, at closing time in he evening... and perished in the stewpot of the treacherous Wackos. These "Now the farthingale in a teeth, a symbol of steadfastness much jollier sort of a bird. This and courage In the face of one bilonged to the first Queen danger—" Elizabeth."

"But how did you get the teath?"

"I look younger than you do," he said offenively.

That'll cost you another bob. Six shillings, glass case and all,"

"I must

before way bitterns boom."

"What does that mean?" "It means they open in ten minutes," I answered, and de- parted hotfoot to the Black

(COPYRIGHT)

"Bequeathed to Stanley by a repentant Wacko chief upon his on deathbed, they have now been

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN

THE BULLETS HAVE : NO EFFECT--UNLESS

I HIT A VITAL SPOT, THAT CARPENTER

ANT'S DESTROYING MY HOUSE.

WHAT CAH WE

POT

IT'S BOUND TO LOSE ITS APPETITE SOON. I WONDER WHAT ELSE

ATE THAT GIANT

MAKING GRAIN?

COMING SILENTLY THROUGH_ THE FIELO--THE TERROR OF THE INSECT WORLD--

A PRAYING MANTIS!

The trial was at lost drawing to its close. Dr Uhde mado

By Lee Falk and Phil Davla

(COPYRIGHT)

All

of instalments

"The Vengeance of Privato Fooley" which have appeared in the China Mall were drawn from the book written by Cyril Jolly and, published by Heinemann,

TALK

ABOUT

MAGIC!

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