JAP ATROCITIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 November 1945, Page 3

JAP ATROCITIES

TRIAL OF YAMASHITA ALLEGATIONS DENIED Manila, Nov., 28. General Yamashita, giving evidence on his own behalf, said he was never m supreme command of the Philippines, thus implying that he could not be blamed for the atrocities committed there. Yamashita added that he was always under the orders of General Terauchi. He had never had headquarters in Manila. Furthermore, the Japanese Air Force, transport and 30,000 other troops in the Philippines were under other commanders. The Japanese plan for the defence of the Philippines called for the Air Force and the Navy to annihilate the American invaders, with the Army merely cooperating. He said he arrived in the Philippines to take command of the 14th Area Army in October, 1944. and the Americans landed nine days later. He found his forces in an unsatisfactory condition, with only three staff officers familiar with the Philippines. He was short of five divisions of troops and was lacking in supplies, particularly food and gasoline. The Chief Prosecutor, Mr Kerr, announced that as the defence had opened the question of Yamashita’s command in Singapore, the prosecution would present evidence of the atrocities of his troops committed there. Shigemasa Sunoda, who served on Yamashita’s staff in Singapore, gave evidence that Yamashita had a monument erected there for British and Australian dead. Sunoda also gave evidence that Yamashita refused to allow troops to celebrate Singapore’s fall. Instead, he held memorial services for the dead. Yamashita, when asked whether he was aware of or had ordered the Philippines atrocities, gestured with his large muscular hands and said: “No, absolutely no!’’ He added that he had determined that Manila was indefensible and therefore ordered his troops out, but naval forces remained without his knowledge.