Soy Australian Assisted Enemy

Northern Advocate, 6 March 1947, Page 5

Soy Australian Assisted Enemy

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 5. An Australian, John Joseph Holland, 39. described as a seaman, was committed for trial when he appeared at Bow Street charged with doing acts likely to assist the enemy. Holland was charged with having entered the service of the Germancontrolled radio at Shanghai on February 13, 1942, and having entered the service of the Japanese broadcasting system in Tokio on December 5, 1942. The prosecutor (Mr H. A. Morgan) said he would not ask for committal on the first charge because of certain legal difficulties. The case depended entirely on Holland’s voluntary admissions. Holland had typed out and signed the most important of several documents supporting his admissions when the Americans arrested him in Tokio.. SPECIAL SCRIPT Passages in this alleged statement included:: "I commenced broadcasting from radio headquarters, Shanghai, on February 13. 1942. and was asked to read a commentary written especially for an Australian audience, urging Australians to refrain from any further participation in the Pacific war.” Mr Morgan said Holland admitted broadcasting scripts which were discovered after Japan's occupation. Holland, when sent for trial, pleaded not guilty. He "asked the magistrate why he was not tried in Australia. Mr Morgan said the case was undertaken by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the request of the Austialian Solicitor-General.