"ALL IS FAIR IN WAR"
GENERAL BENNETT'S PLEA
Rec. 9 a.m. MELBOURNE Dec. 7. When Lieutenant-General Bennett resumed his evidence today at the inquiry into his escape from Singapore, he was cross-examined by Mr. Dovey, X.C . on the justification for retaining his weapons in the circumstances, andj was asked if he knew whether, in taking weapons, he was committing a breach of one of the surrender condiions. , . . General Bennett said he knew he was committing a breach of the conditions imposed by the Japanese, but said it was common for prisoners to try to get arms. "I am not concerned about morals or the legality of it," General Bennett said. "I was escaping, and there might have been a time when arms would be necessary. I did not care. I was justified in getting] away with anything concerning the ! Japanese. Anything is fair in war." The Commissioner: I gather that your impression was that these orders j were coming from the Japanese. General Bennett: Yes. General Percival went out with the object of surrendering unconditionally. We expected that the Japanese would not allow any conditions. We asked for one condition, and didn't get it. The next witness was Major-General C. E. M. Lloyd, Adjutant-General of the Australian Military Forces, who said it was General Bennett's duty to surrender his body to the Japanese and that he had no duty to escape. In the terms of capitulation as set out in the statement made by General Percival, General Bennett's failure to surrender endangered his command and rendered voidable the Japanese offer of capitulation. Major-General Lloyd said he did not question the necessity for the capitulation at Singapore. Once capitulation was constitutionally signed, scrupulous adherence to it was a question of international law. Mr. Clancy, K.C.: Before General Bennett had any right to escape he had to allow himself to be captured? I Witness: That is my view. Mr. Clancy: If he didn't escape and :no Japanese came to him he should have gone to them and said: "Here I am: take me." Witness: He should have awaited the orders of his superior officer. General Percival.
The Commission adjourned until Monday.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 138, 8 December 1945, Page 6
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359"ALL IS FAIR IN WAR" Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 138, 8 December 1945, Page 6
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