GORDON BENNETT CASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 7, 9 January 1946, Page 7

GORDON BENNETT CASE

CABINET MAY TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION Sydney, Jan. 7. i Follow.ng the finding of Mr. Justice Ligertwood, it is probable that the Federal Cabinet will decide to take no further action concerning the inquiry into Lieutenant-General Gordon Bennett’s escape licm Singapore. Public opinion here follows closely the lines of Lieutenant-General Bennett’s own statement after reading the full report of the finding: “1 am elated with the result. The only adverse comment deals with a purely legal technicality which most laymen naturally would debate. On the main point at issue, as far as I am concerned, the Judge decided that I acted on unsetrsh and patriotic motives. It pleases me to know that he appreciated the fact that I was able to bring back useful information.”

In effect Lieutenant-General Bennett regained the cease-fire order as marking the beginning of unconditional surrender. Military law lays it down that, from the moment, of unconditional surrender it is a soldier’s I first, ciuiv to escape. The Judge found that the Singapore debacle ended not thus, but in capitulation, which implied that the G.O.C. in Malaya, General Percival, had contracted to deliver every Allied soldier into Japanese hands. Lieutenant-General Bennett’s subsequent action was technically wrong. The rest of the report recognises the fact that, whereas in captivity Lieutenant -General Bennett could do nothing for the men of his Bth Division, when free hr was able to use | vital knowledge in striking blows foi 11 hem and t he Allies. As the mailer slnds. he Aimy ci-iild order a rotirl-inartial or rould .icmovr Lieutenant-General Bennet! from lhe Reserve o' - Ollirrrs. but this is not thought likely. On the other hand. Cabinet is not likely to reimburse Lieuterianl-Generai Bennett lhe £l5OO which lhe inquiry has cost him in legal expenses.