PLAN OF ESCAPE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 November 1945, Page 5

PLAN OF ESCAPE

GEN. BENNETT AND STAFF MALAYA CAMPAIGN IN 1942 EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY Melbourne, Nov., 27. The first witness to give evidence before the inquiry into the escape from Singapore of General Bennett was Captain A. H. Curlewis, formerly on General Bennett’s staff. He told the Commissioner, Mr Justice Ligertwood, that he first heard talk of the escape on 11th February, 1942 four days before the surrender. On that day Lieut., Walker (General Bennett’s aide) said there was a plan to get the old man out, that he and Major Moses were endeavouring to get a boat and that Captain Curlewis might be required to do some swimming. Curlewis said Lieut., Walker was going to Singapore to see about the boat. Qeneral Bennett, Major Moses and Lieut., Walker were present when the rendezvous was decided on, General Bennett having come in after the discussion started. There was another conversation during the day between General Bennett, Major Moses, Lieut., Walker and himself about food and water to be taken and clothes to be worn.

On the night of 13th February 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 Fovey’s statement and said that on the afternoon of 15th February he overheard a telephone conversation between Generals Bennett and Percival. The effect of the conversation was that the A.I.F. was going to fight on, that they were quite all right, that the Australian perimeter was intact and the morale of the troops very high. Mr Dovey (Assistant Commissioner) asked: “Was there any reference to an armistice or attempt to escape or anything like that?” Curlewis replied: “Nothing at our end.” NO BREAKAWAYS BY A.I.F. Curlewis said that later in the afternoon of 15th February someone in the operations rooms told him there were to be no breakaways or attempts to escape by the A.I.F. He remembered General Bennett returning to headquarters with Major Moses and Lieut., 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.

Mr Clancy (General 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 in 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 General Bennett evolved a counter to the Japanese tactics?” Curlewis: “If I can express an opin- | ion on that. I would say that General Bennett’s defence was an offensive defence all the time.” Curlewis said he understood a commanding general would be swiftly segregated from his men. He added that he realised that any plan of escape would necessitate going through Japanese lines —a hazardous operation requiring courage and a good deal of luck to succeed. FIRST MENTION OF ESCAPE The second witness was Charles Joseph Moses, lieutenant-colonel on the reserve of officers, who said that the first time he had a conversion with anyone about escaping from Singapore • as on the moi'ning of 11th February, with Walker. “Walker said, ‘Wouldn’t it be marvellous if we could get the general away,’ ” witness said. “I never thought of the genera, trying to get away and said it would be. I also said that if he were interested in trying, I would like to be associated with him. Walker said he would talk to the general.” Next morning, Moses said Jessop, Curlewis, Walker and himself had a discussion on probable plans. Moses said the attitude of the participants was that 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 of thing you tell everybody,” Moses said. On 13th February, orders were given that certain key personnel should be evacuated.

Mr Dovey referred him to 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 had 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 Colonel Thyer and tcld him in his opinion they were sending specialists instead of jungle expeits. When he spoke to the general, said Moses, General Bennett said he would go if he found himself free to go. On 13th or 14th February 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 been going with the general. I would have preferred to be associated with him.” Mr Dovey: “Did y .» tell Colonel 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 the General was proposing to go did he say 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 Colonel Thyer, discussing the escape, said when General Bennett got back to Australia he would tell his story and would blame

the Malaya Command. When Colonel Thyer and the others got back General Bennett would have to take some share of it. He was very heated,” said Moses. Moses added that he told Colonel 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 quite sure.” Mr Dove"': “Did you say that in your view it was the duty of the soldiers to escape?” Moses: “It was not for me, his junior, to tell him that.” Mr Dovey: “Did he say he regarded himself as responsible to the men until such time as he and the other officers were separated from them?” Moses: “No, nothing like that.” NOBODY TOLD OF PLAN Moses said he had not told anyone that the plan of escape should not be discussed except among the people who were to participate. He did not say this to Captain Curlewis. Aboard a Chinese junk General Bennett told him, “The lads go into captivity with plenty of food and clothing as I have given orders that the troops are to be given two days’ rations of food and new boots and clothing.” Replying to a question, Moses said the only time General Bennett mentioned the Sultan of Johore was on the final afternoon, 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 that General Percival should be informed of the escape plan?” Moses: “It didn’t occur to me.” Moses said he remembered General Bennett having said something about things being* better had he stayed at Singapore. At this stage, their lives seemed to be very precarious. “General Bennett was certain he had done the right thing." said Moses. The hearing is unfinished.