JUDGE SEEKS ADVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 1 December 1945, Page 5

JUDGE SEEKS ADVICE

DISTINCTION OF WAR RULES INTERLUDE IN BENNETT TRIAL Melbourne, Nov. 30. Tactics used by Lieut.-General Bennett against the Japanese in Manila were re-employed on Bougainville and were proved to be of great use. This evidence was given to-day at the inquiry into the escape of Lieut.-Gen-eral Bennett from Singapore in 1942 by Major J.'A. Blanch. ex-Eighth Division officer. Befoie the first witness was called to-day the Commissioner. Mr Justice Ligertwood. said ho regarded the dis- ! tinction between capitulation and unconditional surrender as being of vital : importance. He said: “I regard it as ; no mere technical point, but a matter of substance involving very important j principles. I want advice on the point from both counsel and I trust they 1 will put before me all the evidence in ’ their power regarding the terms which 1 were concluded between General Per- - cival (G.O.C. in Malaya) and the Japcommander.” The Commissioner said he would nnv'ipnjarlv export prh-ioo on the obligations imposed on officers and tional surrender” respectively. “Rules < of war are not matters ordinarily t within the knowledge of a judge and i I want to be sure that I get all the details of the law so that I shall be { properly directed,” added Hi s Hon- t 0111 ' ——— s t