The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1946 ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 8, 10 January 1946, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1946 ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE

J7ACED with the prospect of entering captivity and the alterna--1 five of escaping to fight for Australia on another day, Lieu-tenant-General Gorden Bennett apparently failed to distinguish between surrender and capitulation. That lie should have failed at that critical moment would not necessarily disqualify him from acting in a judicial capacity and, after due contemplation, coming to a correct decision. When Singapore was falling like a pack of cards, when the Japanese had proved themselves no respecters of international law nor of the usages of war, and when they had already intimated their desire to lay their hands on General Gordon Bennett, the mistake on the pari of the General in a matter of interpreting technical 1 erms shoultroccasion no surprise. Soldiers in the field of battle seldom carry military-legal textbooks to ai.l them in their decisions. They would hardly be popular and certainly would not be efficient commanders of men if they did.

General Gordon Bennett did precisely what General MacArthur did in the Philippines—he fought a good fight while it was possible to do so and then, when his inability to aid the men under his command further by staying with them was clear beyond doubt, made a perilous escape which does credit to his personal courage and returned to Australia equipped with most important information and experience which would be most helpful in returning to the fight. To the ordinary soldier and to the civilian as opposed to the legally-minded soldier—who is a bane in any circumstances — the conduct of the General appears to be in conformity with the dictates of common sense and high spirit, and in this way the Commission of Enquiry seems to accept the ordinary practical viewpoint. It is as well for Lieutenant-General Gordon Bennett that the enquiry was held and that the finding has been published, for it acquits him of any possible chance of being charged of legally stepping out of the conflict and reducing personal risks which the future then seemed to hold for him. While Australia has generals who arc prepared to faee the greater dangers instead of the lesser, there is reason for her having confidence in her military establishment.