PRISONER IN JAVA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 225, 24 September 1942, Page 5

PRISONER IN JAVA

DUTCH GOVERNOR-GENERAL Melbourne, Sept. 16. The Colonial .Minister of the Neth Hands Government in London, Dr. H. J. van Mook, formerly Lieui« mint Governor-General of the .Netherlands Indies, broadcast yesterday through Radio-Oranje about the Governor-General of the Indies, His \ Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer. who is now a prisoner of the Japanese in Java, states the Free Netherlands Press Agency. Dr. van Mook described the Gov-ernor-General as a man who, under the most difficult circumstances, gave roof of strong character, loyalty and courage, although the enemy triijd to present him as a fool who gambled away the Indies through blind faith in the Allies. “The truth.” said Dr. van Mook, “is that Stachouwer will be the man whom coming generations will respect as deeply as they will detest the Nazi traitors.” Stachouwer was unshakeable in his decision to share the fate of the country and the people entrusted to his c*re and he had been prepared for the worst every day of the last few years. By throwing Stachouwer ijito a prisoners’ camp, the Japanese had proved that all their claims of chivalry and respect for a noble adversary were false.