JAPANESE MASS SLAUGHTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23347, 2 November 1945, Page 5

JAPANESE MASS SLAUGHTER

Evidence At Yamashita Tria! (7.30 P.m.) MANILA, Oct 31. Burial crews collected and buried 8009 victims of Japanese mass slaughter up to the end of March last, said a Manila undertaker, Mariano D<>l Rosario, in giving evidence at the Yamashita trial. He added that many bodies were badly mutilated. The defence' asked for proof of the figures and Del Rosario replied that his records were correct. He had billed the United States Government lor 120,000 pesos. He was still unpaid. Several witnesses described the killing and burning of -22 civilian patients at the National Psychopathic Hospital. Euisa Borohana, a 30-year-old Spanish woman, gave evidence that at least 800 persons were killed by Japanese bombs in the dining hall of St. Paul’s College on February 9, 1945. where the Japanese herded 1000 civilians. “They brought in candy drinks and placed them in the centre of the room,” said the witness. “I noticed huge black balls hanging from the ceiling, which I thought were lights. As the crowd, mostly women and children, surged towards the refreshments the black balls exploded, killing and wounding many of them. The Japanese burst in. tossing hand grenades and shooting the survivors attempting to flee.”

At the conclusion of the session. Major Reynolds announced lhat the proceedings to-morrow would be closed to the press and public, because women witnesses would describe rape and other maltreatment suffered at the Bay ViewvHotel. Manila.

A prominent Manila matron testified (hat a Japanese officer told her that the Hint) Command had ordered the troons to kill all civilians in Manila in February, while the Americans were np-hting their wav toward the city When she profestod against the mis'vpatment of girls at the Bav View Hotel a Jaoanese lieutenant said that in officer was not permitted to interfere with )fie notions of troops returning from the front.