HONGKONG HORRORS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 60, 12 March 1942, Page 5

HONGKONG HORRORS

• BARBARITIES OF JAPANESE STATEMENT OUTLINES ATROCITIES (Ey Telegraph—Pres» Association —Copyright.) London, March 10. A statement on atrocities committed by the Japanese army after the capitulation of Hongkong was made in both Houses of Parliament to-day. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr. Eden disclosed barbarities perpetrated by the Japanese against helpless military prisoners and the civilian population. In reply to a question. Mr. Eden said that, out of regard for the feelings of thousands of relations of the victims, His Majesty’s Government had been unwilling to publish any account of the Japanese atrocities at Hongkong until these had been confirmed beyond any possibility of doubt. Unfortunately there was no longer room for doubt.

“His Majesty’s Government is now in possession of statements by reliable eye-witnesses who succeeded in escaping from Hongkong,” he said. 4 ‘Their testimonies establish the facts that the Japanese army at Hongkong perpetrated against their helpless military prisoners and civil population, without distinction of race or colour, the same kind of barbarities which aroused the horror of the civilised world at the time of the Nanking massacre in 1937. “It is known that fifty officers and men of the British Army were bound hand and foot and then bayoneted to death. It is known that ten days after the capitulation wounded were still being collected from the hills and that the Japanese were refusing permission for the burying of the dead. It is known that women, both Asiatic and European, were raned and murdered, and that one entire district was declared a brothel, regardless of the status of the inhabitants. “All the survivors of the garrison, including Indian. Chinese, and Portuguese. have been herded into a camp consisting of wrecked huts without doors, windows, lights, or sanitation. “Bv the end of January 150 cases of dysentery had occurred at th rt camp, but no drugs or medical facilities were supplied. The dead had to be buried in a corner of the camp. The Japanese guards are utterly callous, and repeated requests by General Maltbv. the general office, commanding, for an interview with the Japanese commander have been curtly refused. This presumably means that the Japanese High Command has connived at the conduct of their forces. The Japanese Govern ment stated at the end of February that the numbers of prisoners in Hongkong were 5072 British. 1589 Canadian, 3529 Indian, and 357 other.* —a total of 10.947. “Most of the European residents, including some who are seriously ill have been interned, and, like the military prisoners of war. are being given only a little rice and water and occasional scraps of other foods. “The Japanese Government has refused its consent to visits to Hongkong by representatives of protecting Powers, and no permission has yet been granted for such a visit by representatives of the International Red Cross Committee. They have, in fact, announced that they require all foreign Consuls to withdraw from all the territories have invaded since the outbreak of war. It is cleai that their treatment of prisoners of war and civilians will not bear independent investigation. “I have no information as to the condition of lhe prisoners of war and civilians in Malaya. The only report available is a statement by the Japanese official news agency of March 3, stating that 77,699 Chinese have been arrested and subjected to what is described as 'severe examination.’ It is nnt difficult to imagine wha' that entails. “I am sorry that I have liad to make such a statement to the House. Tv.o things v. ill be clear from it to the House, to the country, and to the world. The Japanese claim that their forces are animated h\ a lofty code of chivalry. Bushido, is a nauseating hypocrisy. That is the first thing. The second is that the enemy must be utterly defeat *d. The House will agree with me that we ran best exnress out sympathy with the victims of these appalling outrages by redoubling our efforts to ensure his utter and overwhelming defeat.” A similar reply was given by Lord Cranborne in the House of Lords Mr. E ten’s dis< la ui es 'ere published in Canada and the United States to-d?.\. and an Associated Press message says the American public were horror .stricken. PRIVATION IN PRISON NEWS CORRESPONDENTS GAOLED <Re i Vaughan Meisling. Associated Press cans capture! at Hongkong have been transferred to St an lev Prison because thej refused Japanese requests to sign a statement that the} were being wll treated. Recent arrivals from Hongkong said that wnthed conditions of pr.vation prevail at the prison, the daily f?.re b< ing one bow 1 of iice and one bowl of watery soup. As a result of the Japanese refusal of medical supj e suffering from dysentery. “PEACE AND ORDER’’ JAPANESE REPORT London. March 10. While the Foreign Secretary was - the Japanese Domei news ag nej was putting out that "peace and order arc being rapidly restored in all the occupied areas.” The British War Office announces that in the few cases where the identity of casualties in Hongkong is known, the next-of-kin have been informed. In the great majority of cases identity is not known.