DEATH MARCHES

Grey River Argus, 18 September 1945, Page 5

DEATH MARCHES

FOR ALLIED PRISONERS Japanese Atrocities in ■ Borneo 2400 ALLIED PRISONERS..: JAF. COMMANDER’S SUICIDE. (Rec. 8.45) SYDNEY, Sept. 17 Sick Allied prisoners were taken for “death marches” through Borneo mountains round the Sandakan camp. These marches were partly responsible for appalling mortality. Only six prisoners are known to have survived from 2,550 in the Sadakan area. Until September 1944, twenty deaths were reported among the Sandakan prisoners, but from that time on, malnutrition and disease began to take toll ,and the mortality rate gained an appalling momentum. It was in January this year that 453 prisoners were sent on the first “death march” through rugged Borneo mountains to Ranau, about one hundred’ miles west of Sandakxin. Some 230 reached Ranau, and 223 ciied on the way. In May a second “death march” was organised. This time 536 set out, but only 183 reached the destination. Of the remained, 45 were reported to have been killed for trying to escape, while 306 died on the way. The Japanese say that of 413 who survived marches to Ranau, seven were killed while attempting to escape, and the remaining 406 died. Colonel Suya, Japanese Commandant of all prison camps in Borneo, committed suicide with a blunt knife yesterday, says a message from Labuan. He had been lodged in a compound to await questioning on the condition of the Borneo prison camps. One of the camps was at Sandakan, where it is estimated that approximately 2500 British and Australian prisoners died in the past year. It. was considered certain that Suya would have been tried as a war criminal. The prisoners regarded him as an inhuman flend, and held him entirely responsible for the 600 graves of prisoners of war in Kuching cemetery. After having been ordered to have all records of the prison camps ready for inspection, Suya destroyed them before our forces entered Kuching. MELBOURNE, September 17.

Of 2400 British and other prisoners, including Australians, who were at Sandakan (north-west Borneo) in August, 1943, only six are known to be alive, says an Army statement. Originally there were 2550 at Sandakan, including Singapore men, but 150 were moved to Kuching. There is some hope that a few of the Sandakan prisoners who escaped into the jungle may have survived.