WORLD AGHAST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1945, Page 5

WORLD AGHAST

AUSTRALIAN REPORT

Revolting Jap Atrocities Almost Unbelievable Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 10. "The whole civilised world is aghast at the revelation of bestiality," states the Evening Standard in a leading article on the report submitted to the Australian Government by the Chief Justice of Queensland, Sir William Webb, revealing details of atrocities so revolting as to be almost unbelievable.

"The report must be read to be understood," the article states. "If peace-loving nations are to prevent a repetition of the nightmare every citizen will support General MacArthur and our Australian brothers in demanding the sternest retribution. We can take pride in those men who faced the monsters and survived, their bodies frail and tortured, their spirits unbroken, their faith still strong." A message from Canberra states that the report, which has just been officially released, has been compiled from evidence supplied by actual witnesses of these atrocities, including many responsible officers, both military and civil, also five Australian soldiers who were left for dead, but who recovered and escaped. This grim document has been submitted to the War Crimes Commission in London. "If those responsible for these outrages are allowed to escape punishment it will be the most gross defeat of justice and a travesty of the principles for which the war has been fought," said the Minister of External Affairs, Dr. H. V. Evatt, in a statement to the Press on the Webb Report, says a message from London. ■ Dr. Evatt's statement indicates that as far as Australia is concerned there will be no soft peace for Japan.