Evening star., 1945-10-29
Girl Witness al Trial
OF Yamashita Tells Of
Massacre by -Four Japs
100 Women and Children
Boyoneted ond Shot in
Red Cross Aid Station
BY the Associated Press.

MANILA, Oct. 29.-Four Japa-
nese sailors in 1t. Gen. Tomoyuki
Yamashita's Philippines COM
mand killed or wounded 100
women and children in a bloody
orgy in a Red Cross aid station,
a pretty survivor testified today
as the generals trial on war
criminal charges opened.
The heavily medaled, bullet-head-
ed Yamashita, defeated at every
turn in legal skirmishing, which
opened the hearing, took keen in
terest. He followed legal arguments
carefully with the assistance of q
personal interpreter, but appeared to
understand considerable English.
Patricinia Abad, rs, testified that
four japanese sailors savagely bay
oneted and shot the 100 women and
children here last February. The
orgy continued more than hour
although there was no resistance.
Covered Behind Cabinet.
Her arm in a sling, Mrs. Abad
testified that she covered behind a
cabinet with her 10-month-old
daughter in her arms. She was shot
through the elbew and bayoneted
nine times. Three thrusts went
through her body and fatally in
jured her baby.
The four Japanese slaughtered
more than SO of the women and chill
dren, Mrs. Abad told the military
commission of five American gen.
erals trying Yamashita for his life
on a charge that he was responsible
for crimes committed by his COM
mand.
Capt. Norman J. Sparnon, Mel
bourne, Australia, who preceded
Mrs. Abad, identified translations of
captured Japanese documents which
definitely showed that Yamashita
commanded the 14th Imperial Army
group at the time of the atrocities.
Guards escorted Yamashita to the
defense table minutes before court
opened in the heavily guarded high
commissioner residence, where Of
hcers, troops and Filipinos Wed for
the few seats available to the pub
lie.
SO New Points Admitted.
The defense objected to admission
of SO new points in the prosecution's
bill of particulars on the ground that
it opened an entirely new theory
of law. The bill charged that va
mashita permitted" his troops to
commit atrocities. The objection
was overruled.
The defense then sought a two
week postponement to counter the
prosecutions new charges. That
was denied, but the court stipulated
that the defense might renew its
request for postponement after the
prosecution rests.
1t was clear that the defense
carefully was laying the groundwork
for an appeal either to President
Truman or to the United States Su,
preme Court If Yamashita Is con.
victed. It asked DISMISSAL of al
charges against Yamashita, who /!
the first Pacific war criminal suspect
to face trial, on the contention thai
the commission is without jurisdic.
ton and had no proper authority tt
hear the case.
Defense Pleas Fail.
j Col. Harry E. Clarke, Altoona, Pa.
commission-appointed chief of de.
fense counsel, argued that the prose.
cution had failed to show that Pres.
ident Truman or any proper author
ity had delegated power to Gen
Macarthur to order the commission
convened.
I Baked in efforts to win dismissal
the defense asked the prosecution
to particularize its charges tina
/ Yamashita permitted" atrocities b!
stating how permission was granted
and where. That motion was over
ruled.