U.S. Commander Meets with Unrra Director on Alleged Mistreatment of Jewish Dp’s

UNRRA district director Sam Zieman tonight conferred here with Brigadier General Hobart Gay, commander of the Second Constabulary Brigade in Bavaria, following charges that local UNRRA officials were protecting “Jewish black marketers” and countercharges by UNRRA officials that the Army was attempting to “whitewash” the beating of eight displaced Jews.

In a report to Maj. Gen. Ernest N. Harmon, constabulary commander in Germany, Army officers charged that two Landsberg UNRRA officials, Joe Buda and a Mr. Korn, had consistently blocked military police activities in relation to the DP’s and were shielding Jews allegedly engaged in black market operations.

Calling for the dismissal of Buda and Korn, the officers asserted that the UNRRA officials obtained affidavits from eight displaced Jews acousing constabulary troops of mistreating them during questioning, and that the charges were unsubstantiated. Buda, a Polish UNRRA worker, was also accused of threatening to “get” Army officers who refused to release the DP’s.

Buda yesterday denied the Army’s charges and reiterated statements that the Jews were beaten and treated “in a brutal manner.” Carl Atkin of Los Angeles, personal representative for Jewish affairs of UNRRA’s zone director, today said he considered the Army’s charges against Buda and Korn “whitewash” because they came several weeks after the alleged attempts to interfere with the constabulary troops were committed. He indicated that UNRRA would take a strong stand in defense of Buda and Korn.

ARMY DENIES BEATING EIGHT JEWS; ONE HELD IN HOSPITAL FOR A WEEK

Meanwhile, it was learned that the trial of Herman Plachczonsky, one of the eight DP’s, who is alleged to have been injured most severely and the only one against whom charges are still pending, has been postponed until Thursday morning. The trial will be held at Bad Toelz, about 40 miles from Munich. The Army has not explained why Plachczonsky, who was arrested Dec. 15, was not tried within 24 hours as provided by Army regultions.

In a statement from constabulary headquarters in Bamberg yesterday, charges of mistreatment of the eight Jews were officially denied, although it was admitted that Plachozonaky had complained of injuries on Dec. 16 and 17. The statement added that he had been sent to a hospital where he remained until Dec. 24 and that doctors there had failed to find any injuries. The Army also denied that he had been held incommunicado since his arrest.

The statement did not explain why Plachozonsky remained in the hospital a week, if he was not injured, nor did it answer charges by his wife and UNRRA that they had been unable to ascertain his whereabouts. Previous statements by the military police that he was implicated in a rape charge have proven unfoumded.