TREASON CHARGE

Evening Star, Issue 25893, 10 September 1946, Page 7

TREASON CHARGE

THE CASE AGAINST COUSENS DEFENDANT GIVEB EVIDENCE IN OWN DEFENCE SYDNEY, September 9. Major Charles Hughes Cousens gave evidence to-day as the first witness for his .defence on the charge of high treasonwhile a prisoner of war. When the case was resumed, Mr Sbaud, for the defence, asked the Crown to obtain a copy of an order made by General Mac Arthur-’ and Admiral Nimitz in April, 1943, commanding all general servicemen, an _ being taken prisoners of war, to submit to Japanese demands rather than submit themselves to torture and ill-treatment.

In evidence, Cousens said he tvas born at Poona, India, of British parents, and was educated at Sandhurst Military College. He served as a commissioned officer with the British Army in India until 1926, when he was honourably discharged, He then went to Australia, and on the outbreak of war was chief announcer at 2GB, Sydney. IN CHANGI CAMP.

At the time of the surrender of Singapore, he was second in command of the 2/19th Battalion, and went with the rest to Changi camp. On being told that it was the wish of the G.O.C. A.I.F. in Malaya, that lie should broadcast, saying that the survivors were safe and being reasonably treated, -he demurred, as he had already taken steps to conceal his occupation from his captors. He was told to go ahead, and he did so. Following this, a Japanese, Hishaikari, told him that the Japanese wished him to broadcast from Singapore. Cousens refused, in spite of a statement that he would not have to broadcast anything he did not want to say. He maintained this attitude, and was allowed to return to the men. Later he received orders from A.I.F. headquarters that the Japanese again wanted to interview him. An Australian colonel told him that if the Japanese required him to write a thesis he was not to refuse, as a couple of senior officers had already written a thesis, and headquarters had made rulings on the subject. His instructions, were, “ Write a lot of rubbish. and tell the Japanese as little as possible.” When he went before the Japanese again, however, he again refused. Hishakari became threatening, and then demanded that Cousens should write for the Japanese, Cousens was then placed in solitary confinement, and finally he wrote the “ wildest generalisations ” about Pacific trade, He was then interrogated by a Japanese naval commander, Takasaki, who offered him the privileges of living outside the camp if he would broadcast. Cousens refused this and other offers, and reported the conversation to Colonel Anderson.

TORTURES AND KILLINGS. Defendant then gave evidence of tortures and killings by the Japanese. An Australian soldier who was caught with a stolen tin of onions was flogged unconscious with a solid stick. He had never seen men in such condition as were the Australian prisoners. At this point Cousens became deeply distressed, and was unable to proceed, The court was adjourned for a short time, and when it. resumed Cousens said Australian officers had to restrain their men from charging armed Japanese with their bare hands. He described the journey to Mergui in the hell-ship Celebes Maru with 1,500 Australians. He was struck several times by the Japanese for allowing men to remain too long on deck. When he intervened between a Japanese and two Australians whom the Japanese appeared to be about to bayonet. Cousens received the butt of the rifle in his chest, and a blow in the face. A week later he received orders to proceed to Tokio. He protested. Before he left, he took a list of the men in camp for broadcasting, and wrote a letter to the managing director, Sgmn. H. G. Horner, explaining that the probabilit.v of his survival was remote. The letter would later be produced in evidence. The case is proceeding.