PUBLIC INDIGNANT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 56, 8 March 1946, Page 5

PUBLIC INDIGNANT

OVERCROWDING OF JAPS ON DESTROYER Sydney, March 7. The embarkation or 11 women and 112 children on the demilitarised Japanese destroyer Yoizuki was delayed by Australian officers until they received orders from a higher authority that the embarkation had to be carried • out. The Yoizuki afterwards began its journey to Formosa, Korea and Japan with 1005 passengers 'and a crew of ISO. The ship, which is 300 feet long and 28 feet wide, was hopelessly overcrowded before the •women went aboard. The women and children were ordered below deck into a bare magazine in the stern which could take 70 in reasonable comfort. There were no lavatories and bamboo mars served as beds. After inspecting the ship the embarkation officers communicated with Canberra. The passengers include pregnant women, children aged four weeks and women aged 80 years. Special trains from Cowra, where recent activities of the Japanese “Black Dragon” gang were reported, brought cx-prisoners including stretcher cases and two madmen. Profound public indignation has been aroused by the crowding of more than 1000 men, women and children into the Japanese destroyer Yoizuki. Protests centre round the embarkation of Formosans, including 100 women and 112 children. The Formosans claim to be Chinese and express fear and hatred for the Japanese.

One youth tried to connnit suicide by jumping off the wharf rather than go aboard and women staged a sitdown strike before being hustled on to the vessel by guards. Overcrowding of the ship was referred to in both Federal and State Parliaments last night. Widespread demands are being made for the immediate recall of the shin to pnrt.