The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-01-28
Prisoners
Continued from page Oncl

great majority OF bIltlbn Empire
prisoners in Japanese hands were
being forced to live under much
different conditions than those re
lated in postcards and letters.
Grave News
Some recent communications
from the prisoners we're in terms
dictated by the Japanese author
tiles" Eden said in giving com
mons what he said was grave
news about the treatment of Brit
ish prisoners of war and interned
civilians in Japanese hands.
The prisoners included those
from the British commonwealth
and India" he said,
Between so and 90 per cent OF
the total prisoners and internees
held by japan were confined In
the Philippines, Netherlands East
Indies. Borneo. Malaga, Thailand
or Indo-China, Eden said.
THE Japanese government hith-
erto has withheld permission for
neutral inspection of any camps
in the question" he said. we
have not been allowed to know
the number Of prisoners, nor have
their names been indicated to us.
mot be Forgotten
Eden warned the Japanese to
reflect that lin the time to come
the record of their military author
titles in this war will not be for
gotten
1T is with the deepest regret
that am obliged to make such
statement to the House, he SAID
but after consultation with our
Allies who equally are victims OF
this uuspeakable sayagery, the gov
eminent felt il their duty to make
public the facts
Eden said the British prisoners
we're forced to build railways and
roads into Burma. One eyewitness
reported seeing half-naked prison
ers in a camp in Thailand whose
privations had reduced them 10
ragged skeletons.
The same witness reported they
wore no hats or shoes, and this. |
may remind you, in a tropical eli
mate where the neighboring coun'
tries are virtually uninhabited and
where there are practically no To-
cal resources which could provide
medical or other material reliet'
Eden told the house.
In Java. he added. many prison
ers were confined in camps with
out adequate protection against
malaria and with insufficient clo-
thing and food TO maintain their
health.
Men Emaeiated
Reports from the northern area
refer to the emaciated state Of
prisoners arriving from Java the
foreign secretary said.
The only exception TO the record
of Japanese cruelty. he said, was
that civilian internees held at
Bangkok and Saigon we're believ-
ed to have received "tolerable'
treatment.
Eden added that prisoners OF
war held in camps at Hong Kong,
Formosa, Shanghai, Korea and ia
pan proper also were understood
to be living under reasonably sat
isfactory conditions, although be
emphasized that these camps ire
quently do not provide adequate
food.
In Hong Kong, he said, condi-
tons were deteriorating.
Brutal Outrage
THE whole story would appear
bad indeed, but have worse TO
come" he said. we have a grow
ing list OF cases Of brutal outrage
on individuals or groups of indi-
yiduals.'
He then cited the case of an Of.
ficer of the Shanghai municipal 20
lice force who was interned with
600 others in a camp for so-called
political suspects" who had in
Cured the anger OF the Japanese
occupation police.
HE (the police officer) was
taken to an office in another part
of the town. Eden related. When
be emerged from the building, nc
was practically out OF his mind.
His arms and feet were infected
where the ropes had left deep
scars. and he lost 30 pounds OF his
weight. He died within a day or
two after his release
Three other British subjects who
attempted TO escape from civil.
ian internment camp In the Phil
ippines we're recaptured, logged
and sentenced TO death.
The firing party used automst-
ic pistols and these three men
were not killed outright Eden
said.
In Burma. the Japanese bound
a number OF Indian soldier prison.
@ers and forced them to sit in
groups alongside a road.
5ayonetted
Then they we're Systematically
bayonetted from behind in turn,
each man receiving apparently
three bayonet TRUSTS he said.
Eden also disclosed the case Of
a captured British officer in Burma
who was tortured by his Japanese
captors.
after being dubbed across the
face with a sword, he was tied to
a stake and rope was passed
around his neck. Only By raising
his body could be get enough air
to keep him alive. He then was
subjected to further torture.
Fortunately" Eden said. an
Allied attack developed and the
Tanape.o fla ana tho ,ff{car ,-as