MAJOR CHARGED WITH AIDING ENEMY

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 September 1946, Page 5

MAJOR CHARGED WITH AIDING ENEMY

London, Sept. 13. Major Cecil Boon, R.A.S.C., on the 16th day of the courtmartial before which he is charged with assisting the enemy, gave evidence on five of the 11 original charges on which the Court found there was a prima facie case against him. Major Boon answered counsel’s questions all day. He said that General Maltby, the camp’s commander for the first four months and his senior officers did not protest against Japanese orders for prisoners. Th* Japanese accused a colonel, who later protested against signing undertakings that the prisoners would not attempt to escape, of leading a mutiny and on General Maltby’s advice there was a mass signing of the undertakings. About 100 who refused were taken to Stanley Prison. When they were brought back only half a dozen persisted in their refusal, the last of whom signed after eight days. One ol the resisters told witness that such refusals should not be made beyond the point where the prisoners were taken from the camp, because of the terrible treatment they then received. Major Boon said that after General Maltby was transferred the Japanese commandant ordered him Lo be liaison officer, telling him all orders would come from the Japanese and not from the British officers. The Japanese told him he must pass on the orders and see they wer e carried out and report to them if they were not. He told the Japanese he would find it difficult to control the camp of nearly 3000 men, because he was inexperienced thereat. The Japanese reported that he would not have to control them, as the Japanese would do it. After two pris-