Shanghai, Apr. 8, EGAL, local French merchant, whose detention aboard the French gunboat, Francis Garnier, has evoked a wave of indignation among certain sec! us of the French community here, is no longer held incommunicado, His wife and M. J, Reynaud, a member of his firm, were, allowed to interview him for fifteen minutes in the presence of a naval officer on Sunday, was learned yesterday. Paul Premet, the French naval authorities to his legal adviser, has petitioned see his client to enable him to prepare his defence and to refute the allegations made, against the prisoner of being concerned in desertions from the ranks of the French fighting forces here.
M. Premet disclosed that M, Egal was well and wag being well treated fon board, but was confined to a cabin. Those who have been allow-to seo him could discuss any subfect except the case. While no definite charges have been instituted against the merchant, it is under-Hood that. his arrest followed his alleged incitement of French naval men to desert.
On Sunday M, Premet was unable to contact the naval officer, who was conducting an investigation into the case of M Egal. The oflleer was not fon board when M. Premet embarked. Counsel was not given permission to see his client, but was hopeful that he would be allowed to do so soon following his petition to the naval authorities.
Yesterday M. Premet informed Lieut. de Beaufort, a French naval ficer attached to the navy judicial section that he had been retained defend M. Egal. M. Premet pointed out. to him that the circumstances attending the arrest of M. Egal were legal. Counsel subsequently wrote fo the naval authorities concerned pointing out that under the special laws governing French citizens resident' here, the intervention of the naval or military authorities in mat-tera affecting them judicially was not provided by law and that the appUleation of the military or naval code in the case of M. Egol was entirely incompatible. Counsel also slated that M. Egal was removed from his residence in a Belgian ex. tablishment without the permission
petent Belgian authorities.
warrant of entry from the com-'Counsel went on to refer to Article 319 of the Military Code defining the powers of the military authorities, permitting their Intervention flagrant delicto cases and. allowing them to make arrests only after per~ mission had been secured from the civil and judicial authorities con. corned. Reference was then made to Article 121 of the Code prohibiting military or naval authorities entering on abode or establishment without the assistance either of a judge or mayor (here the French Consul-General) or a competent police officer.
'M. Premet then labelled the arrest as illegal and asked the naval au-
Kidnapping will receive from thei masters. In point of fact. Commander do Saint George candidly admit ted that the prosecution had no witness whatsoever, but his own officers
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.