YAMASHITA’S DEFENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 November 1945, Page 5

YAMASHITA’S DEFENCE

KNEW NOTHING OF ATROCITIES Manila, Nov. 29. Yamashita concluded his -evidence by repeating over and over again that he did not know of any atrocities and he had not ordered any by his troops in the Philippines. Gripping his chair arms Yamashita said: “The matters referred to in the charges here I know for the first time from witnesses before this Court. When and if such acts were committed by my subordinates it was in complete disagreement with my own ideas. I did not order such actions at all. Furthermore, if I had known of them in advance I would have taken every possible step to stop them immediately, and if I had heard about them afterwards I would have punished them to the fullest extent of the military law.” JAP DESCRIBES EXECUTION OF U.S. FLYER Tokio, Nov. 28. Warant Officer Tatanichi Manako testified at Kwajalein that he beheaded an American on instructions from a naval lieutenant, Kyoshi Fueta, one of ten officers on trial for the execution of five airmen. Manako said: “To pay re. spect to the flyer who was about to die and become a god, I changed into clean clothes. I bowed respectfully to him, took seven steps backward, drew my sword, poured water on the blade to purify it, stepped forward to the American and cut off his head with a single stroke. Full respects were paid at the grave by all present.” Manako said he felt the execution was wrong but did not question the order. (Earlier message page 3)