Officers Tell of Plan to Escape

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 281, 28 November 1945, Page 7

Officers Tell of Plan to Escape

Formulated Prior to Singapore Surrender

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Tuesday, 11.45 p.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 27. The first witness to give evidence before the inquiry into the escape from Singapore of Lieut.-General Rennet; was Captain A. H. Curlewis, formerly on Lieut.-General Bennett’s staff. Ho told the Commissioner, Mr. Justice Ligertwood, that he first heard talk oi the escape on February 11, 1942, four days before the surrender. On that day, Lieutenant Walker (Lieut.-General Bennett’s aide) said there was a plan to get “the old man’’ out, that he and Major C. J. A. Moses were endeavouring to get a boat and that Captain Curlewis might be required to do some swimming. Curlewis said Walker was going to Singapore to see about the boat. Bennett, Moses and Walker were present when the rendezvous was decided on, Bennett having come in after the discussion started. There was another conversation during the day between Bennett, Moses and Walker and himself about the food and water to be taken and the clothes to be worn. On the night of February 13, in the operations room, Curlewis said he was told that Colonel Broadbent was being sent back to Australia to give an official picture of the position in Singapore and Malaya. Curlewis gave evidence along the lines of Mr. Dovey’s statement yesterday and said that on the afternoon of February 15, he overheard a telephone conversation between Bennett and Lieut.-General Percival, G.0.C., Malaya. The effect of the conversation was that the AI.F. was going to fight on, that they were quite all right, that the Australian perimeter was intact and the morale of troops very high. Mr. Dovey (assisting the Commissioner) asked whether there was any reference to an armistice or an attempt to escape, or anything like that. Curlewis replied: “Nothing at our end.”

Curlewis said that later in the afternoon of February 15, someone in the operations room told him there were to be no breakaways or attempts to escape by the AI.F. He remembered Bennett returning to headquarters with Moses and Walker early that evening. He did not remember seeing any of them after that. He himself remained In the vicinity of the operations room until 8.30 p.m.. the time of the “cease fire,” after which there were only a few odd explosions. GENERAL’S QUALITIES. Mr. Clancy (Bennett’s counsel) asked Curlewis: “Have you anything but admiration for the general’s qualities of courage and personal bravery?” Curlewis replied: “I don’t think anyone else has a higher opinion of them.” Mr. Clancy: They were a tradition among the troops? Curlewis: Yes. Mr. Clancy: At the time you heard of the plan of escape, the Japanese had succeeded in bottling up our forces on the island of Singapore? Curlewis: Yes. Mr. Clancy: There was no suggestion that there should be an escape before the show was over? Curlewis: None at all. Mr. Clancy: In the position in which you were, were you able to say that Bennett evolved a counter to the Japanese tactics? Curlewis: If I can express an opinion on that, I would say that Bennett’s defence was offensive defence all the time. Curlewis said he understood that a commanding general would be swiftly segregated from his men. I_e added he realised that any plan of escape would necessitate going through the Japanese lines—a hazardous operation requiring courage and a good deal oi luck to succeed. The second witness was Charles Joseph Moses, a lieutenant-colonel on the Reserve of Officers, who said that the first time he had a conversation with anyone about escaping from Singapore was on the morning of February 11 with Walker. “Walker said, ‘wouldn’t it be marvellous if we coiucx get the general away?’ I never thought of the general trying to get away, ana said, ‘lt would be.’ I also said that, ii he were interested in trying, I woula like to be associated with him. Walker said he would talk to the general.” PLAN KEPT PRIVATE.

Next morning, Moses said, Jessop, Curlewis, Walker and himself had a discussion on probable plans. Moses said the attitude of the participants wc.s they knew the show, was' going to collapse and it would not be a good thing if it got around that they were discussing plans. “It was not the sort or thing you tell everybody,” Moses said. On February 13, he continued, orders were given that certain key personnel should be evacuated.

Mr. Dovey referred him to the evidence given recently before another inquiry, at which Moses said he had spoken to the general about the people they were sending out, all of them specialists, and remarked that they might send the general. Moses said he had not spoken to the general about who was to go. He had spoken to Thyer and had told him that in his opinion they were sending specialists, instead of jungle experts. When he spoke to the general, said Moses, Bennett said he would go if ne found himself free to go. On February 13 or 14 he spoke to Thyer, telling him that plans were being prepared for escape in the event of surrender. Thyer was very dejected. “I said to him that, if I had not being going with the general, I would have preferred to be associated with him.” Mr. Dovey: Did you tell Thyer that the general proposed to escape? Moses: He knew that perfectly well Mr. Dovey: You said that, if you were not going with the general, you would like him to be coming with you’' Moses: Yes. Mr. Dovey: When you told him that the general was proposing to go, did he «ay anything? Moses: His remark was, “I don’t think I will be interested in getting away.” * Some time on the day or evening of their departure, continued witness, Thyer, discussing the escape, said that when Bennett got back to Australia he would ten his story and would blame the Malaya Command. When Thyer and the others got back, Bennett wouia have to take some share of it. “He was very heated,” said Moses. Moses added that he told Thyer to go to Australia, as he would be of considerable value when he got back. Mr. Dovey: Did he say he considered It quite unethical? Moses: No, nothing like that. I am luite sure. « noar

view, it was the duty of soldiers to escape? Moses: It wasn’t for me, his junior, to tell him that. Mr. Dovey: Did he say he regarded himself as responsible to his men until such time as he and the other officers were separated from them? Moses: No, nothing like that. Moses said he had not told anyone that the plan of escape should not oe discussed except among the people wno were to participate. He did not say this to Curlewis. Aboard the Chinese junk, Bennett told him, “The lads will go into captivity with plenty of food and clothing,” as he had given orders that the troops were to be given two days’ rations of food and new boots and clothing. Replying to a question, Moses said the only time Bennett mentioned the Sultan of Johore was on the final after noon when he said that, as a last resort, the party might strike out for the Sultan’s residence, as he was sure the Sultan would help them. Mr. Dovey: Did you suggest thax Lieut.-General Percival should be informed of the escape plan? Moses: It didn’t occur to me. Moses said he remembered Bennetti having said something about things being better had he stayed at Singapore. At that stage, said Moses, their lives seemed very precarious. “Bennett was certain he had done the right thing,” said Moses. The hearing is not finished*