Britisher Forced To Make Tokio War Commentaries

Northern Advocate, 14 August 1942, Page 5

Britisher Forced To Make Tokio War Commentaries

(Special) SYDNEY, This Day. A former Sydney radio announcer, who was taken prisoner after the fighting in Malaya, is believed to be broadcasting English news commentaries from Tokio. He is Captain Charles Couscns, formerly chief announcer at station 2GB Sydney. Duress Suspected

Military investigators believe the broadcasts are being made under duress. Mrs. Cousens has identified the voice as that of her husband, and identification has been confirmed by other investigators. She describes the broadcasts as "terrible and tragic.”

Former broadcasting associates of Cousens describe his voice as “colourless, flat and sick,” and quite different from his normal broadcasting voice. They believe he has been tortured or confronted with evidence of Japanese atrocities, and, hoping that he might be able to ease the lot of his fellow prisoners, has at last consented to go on the air. A Military Family Captain Cousens, who comes from an English military family, was a graduate of Sandhurst Military College. He saw service at the Khvber Pass, where he was decorated. His father holds the rank of colonel. One brother is interned in Turkey, another is missing after R.A.F. operations and a third is on service in Abyssinia. Official Opinion The Minister for Information (Mr. Ashley) said today that investigations indicated that Cousens was broadcasting direct from Tokio. Investigators were of opinion that, the broadcasts are being made under duress. The voice has been heard on the air several times during the past fortnight at 9.15 p.m. New Zealand time, and again at 12.15 a.m.