TRIAL OF OFFICER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 272, 29 August 1946, Page 5

TRIAL OF OFFICER

CHARGE OF AIDING JAPANESE (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 28. When the court-martial of Major Cecil Boon, on charges of voluntarily aiding the Japanese, resumed -to-day the court rejected the defence’s objection, but amended certain charges and suggested that the prosecution detail tire evidence on which it was replying. The prosecutor, outlining the case, said that Boon was appointed liaison officer in Shamshuipo camp, where he adopted Japanese customs of wearing his hair cut short and also his shirt outside his jacket. He forced group commanders to speak to him in Japanese, and at all times was subservient to the Japanese, bowing to them. Boon said: “I don’t regard myseli as a British officer. lam part of the Japanese staff. I owe no allegiance to the King.” The prosecution submitted that Boon, although under the orders of his captors, went further than needed. The prosecution alleged, when referring to the arrival of a party of Wrens in the vicinity, that Boon had permission to see a woman whose Christian name was Ann, though other prisoners were not allowed to contact friends.