YAMASHITA CONDEMNED

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1945, Page 5

YAMASHITA CONDEMNED

SENTENCED TO BE HANGED SERIES OF APPEALS ' ’. MANILA, December 7. .General Yamashita, who has been on trial as a war criminal for condoning atrocities committed by his troops in the Philippines, has been found guilty and sentenced to death. Yamashita heard the verdict read by Major-General Russell Reynolds, president of the Military Commission.

“This commission finds '-.that a series of atrocities and high crimes were committed by the Japanese armed forces under your command against the nationals of the United States, its allies and dependencies,” said Major-General Reynolds. “These were not sporadic incidents, but often were methodically supervised by Japanese officers and non-commis-sioned officers. You, during the period in question, failed to provide effective control of your troops as required by the circumstances and accordingly o'n a secret ballot with twothirds or more of the commission concurring, the commission finds you guilty as charged and sentences you to death by hanging.” Yamashita’s shoulders sagged, but he straigthened them quickly and made a curt, bow to the commission. “I wish to stand here to-day with a clear conscience and swear to God that I am innocent of these charges, said Yamashita before the verdict. “I wish to express my gratitude to the United States officers of the defence, who are brilliant and upright-officers. I wish to thank the commission for a fciix* tricil ” C Defence counsel has indicated that Yamashita will appeal to LieutenantGeneral W. D. Styer, commander of the Army forces in the West Pacific, who convened the commission, then, if necessary, to General MacArthur as Allied Commander in the Pacific and then to the United States Supreme Court, where an appeal is pending. The defence intends to take advantage of every possibility because the case sets precedents in international laws. . . The Tokio newspaper Mamichi says that Mrs Yamashita was in Tokio a few hours before the verdict. She declined friends’ suggestions that she should appeal to Mrs MacArthur for help and justice for her husband. “The American method of justice is admirably fair, and I arn pleased with it,” said Mrs Yamashita. . I thought my husband would be tried because he was in command for a long time at the front.” STRIPPING JAP INDUSTRIES. TOKIO, December 7. The United States member of the Allied Reparations Commission (Mr. Edwin Pauley) has recommender, that Japan be stripped of all her assets abroad, virtually all her chemical, steel, and shipbuilding capacity, and half her electric power and machine tool industries. Mr. Pauley, in a formal statement, said he was recommending this course to President Truman to destroy any possibility of Japan ever waging war again, and to reimburse the countries she had victimised. He added that the equipment built up by Japan in the past generation consisted _oi plants for waging wars of aggression, and in spite of all war-time destruction there was still twice as much in useable condition as'when she started on her aggressive course. That surplus must be taken out. Mr. Pauley 'said that these industrial facilities would be shipped to other countries, together with, all Japanese capacity for producing many specified light metals. Pending a decision as to their disposal, all her gold and precious metals would be sent to the San Francisco Mint. “Equipment used solely for making arms and ammunition will be destroyed,” he said. “Japanese steel production will be reduced from more than 11,000,000 tons to 2,500,000 tons. All equipment will be removed from 20 shipyards, except that necessary for shipping essential to the occupation. Twenty of the 41 modern caustic acid plants will be removed, together with all coal-burning electric generating plants, except those necessary as standby substitutes for hydro-electric plants. All Japanese assets outside the home, islands will be confiscated.”