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AMBON
Sent in by Lyndon Wright
Nakashima Katsuji. Interrogated by Capt J G Godwin
I assisted Sergeant A.H. Weston in the re-interrogation of former Lieutenant-Commander
lsamu Miyake who is presently confined in Sugamo Prison. This was a
particularly horrific and sadistic massacre - almost satanic, and which
is a further indictment on uncontrolled Japanese depravity.
Because of its impact upon the sensitivities of normal decent people,
it is not proposed to extemporize the genocidal and depraved excesses
discovered. It is quite apparent that sexual lust dictated the behaviour
of many hate-motivated Japanese soldiers who relished the opportunities
to humiliate and ravish prisoners, particularly women and girls of European
origin. In this regard and upon sworn testimony supplied, this reprehensible
conduct included selected boys held as prisoners in special Boys' Camps'
in the former Dutch East Indies.
Perhaps, General MacArthur was aware of this widespread Japanese conduct
and realising the enormity of what would be exposed if investigations
proceeded - particularly concerning Imperial Japanese Army Brothels,
of which there were hundreds in conquered countries, the order not to
continue with investigations into these widespread atrocities was issued
to spare Japan the odium and contempt of the world. However, a separate
(CC) Report will be filed in the appropriate Prosecution Index. A report
on this interrogation, minus the (CC) classification, will be filed
by Sergeant Weston in his own weekly summary.
File 851-1. 851. 85K EXECUTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN AND DUTCH POWs, LAHA AIRFIELD,
AMBON ISLAND, February 1942
Considerable time has been consumed in tracking down witnesses who clearly
were deliberately evading apprehension 1) Reinte. because of the nature
of this atrocity and their probable Malay involvement. Of four witnesses
(suspects) arrested, two are unhelpful and hostile.
File 85H. 851, 85K EXECUTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN AND I)UTCH POWs, LAHA AIRFIELD,
AMBON ISLAND,
4 February 1942 I Re-interrogated former civilian interpreter (Dutch
and Malay language) Saburo Yoshizaki of Kure No.I SNLP. Yoshizaki was
stationed at Laha Airfield from the morning of 3 February, until the
morning of 10 February 1942. In regard to the first executions at Laha
Airfield (9 February 1942), Yoshizaki admitted he, another civilian
interpreter by the name of Terada Okada, and Ist Class P0 Tasu ki Yamashita
1st Class visited the scene of the execution on their own accord, the
time of their arrival there being about I 80() hours.
According to Yoshizaki there were two prepared graves (holes -A' and
.B' ) both circular in shape and of similar dimensions, namely six metres
in diameter and about three metres deep.grouped around the sides of
each grave were one or two officers and about twenty odd marines and
soldiers including petty officers and NCOs.
He states that just prior to the commencement of the executions, a marine
(rank and name unknown came over to where he and some companions who
were standing and requested the loan of his sword. Yoshizaki states
he loaned his sword to the marine whereupon the latter disappeared among
a group of marines standing about hole 'B'. Yoshizaki then described
the execution of the first Australian prisoner at grave 'A'; this decapitation
being carried out by Warrant Officer Kakutaro Sasaki. He recalls that
after the fourth prisoner had been beheaded by individual marines keenly
waiting their turn (ranks and names unknown) at grave 'A', several battery
torches were procured to light the backs of the necks of each successive
victim. After the seventh or eighth Australian had been decapitated
at grave 'A'. the
marine who had borrowed the sword, returned it to Yoshizaki commenting
that it was blunt and the blade had unaccountably bent when he had beheaded
a giant of a fellow.
On receipt of his sword and scabbard. Yoshizaki stated he and his companions
departed the scene of the killings and returned to their barracks. Yoshizaki
denied having witnessed the executions of prisoners at grave B' as his
attention was concentrated on the macabre drama at grave A'. Yoshizaki
claims that he learned later that in addition to Dutch mortar unit personnel
(about thirty prisoners). Fifty five Australian soldiers had also been
beheaded on the night in question.
2) Concerning the second executions. Yoshizaki states that on his return
to Ambon township on 23 February 1942 (he had been absent on interpreting
duties at Paso) he heard from.he believes, Ist Class Petty Officer Tasuki
Yamashita that between 15-20th Februarv 1942 (exact date not recalled
all the remaining prisoners ( Australian) at Liha Airfield had been
decapitated. some eighty odd as related to him by Yamashita. Yoshizaki
avers that he was told that this second execution at Laha had been carried
out by crew members of a Japanese minesweeper that had been sunk previously
by an enemy mine in Ambon Bay. It was an act of reprisal and retaliation
for the loss of their ship.
(3 ) Re-interrogated former 1st Class Seaman Miyataro Ichio who has
been identified as having been present and to have participated in the
mass execution of Dutch and Australian prisoners at Soeakodo in early
February 1942 He denied having been present at these executions. Claiming
to having been suffering from recurring malaria indisposition, at that
particular time and all efforts to budge him from this dubious explanation
proved futile.. He was certain that his former officer commanding. Warrant
Officer Kyusuke Yamashita had named him as being one of the dozen or
so marines present at the said executions as he. Ichio, thought that
the latter believed him dead and as such would not inconvenience other
members of his platoon who did participate.
JGG: BMP REPORT OF INVESTIGATING OFFICER
Capt. J G Godwin
File 125M sworn statement in Japanese characters was obtained from former
Lt Yoshiro Tsuda. formerly Second in command of a forced labour camp
on the island of Sado. This POW camp was the only one on the island
and was based at Aikawa. To compound investigative difficulties in this
inquiry it has been found that POW Camp 109 at Aikawa was an unlisted
labour prison and of which records appear to have been wilfully destroyed.
The follow information was extracted from Tsuda after three days of
close interrogation at Sugamo Prison.
(A)Yoshiro Tsuda though evasive throughout his interrogation answered
most questions sufficiently helpful to enable this investigating officer
to piece together the reason and cause the disappearance of 387 Allied
prisoners of war eve. and including the date of their mass executions.(B)
Tsuda maintains his innocence of complicity in the formulating of superior
orders that was designed by higher by higher authorities to appear like
an accident. Because of the complexity of this investigation it is deemed
best to recount Tsuda's own version of events leading up to the disposal
of all the POWs.
Tsuda's testimony
'On the morning of the 2nd August 1945, I was ordered by major Masami
Sadakichi the camp commandant, to detail the usual working parties at
the nearby mine but with special instructions to ensure that every prisoner
entered the mine. Usually fifty prisoners remained on top of the mine
to empty the rakes of laden steel bins into nearby hoppers.
I pointed out this need to major Sadakichi, but he dismissed my concern
with the comment that the mine was no longer viable and would be abandoned
that day. Superior orders decreed that all prisoners of war were to
be ordered to the deepest part of the mine, some 400 feet. Major Sadakichi
further impressed on me that the guard detail were to carry out their
duties in the normal manner, and not to alarm the prisoners.
I further advised major Sadakichi that a demolition detail had set concealed
explosive charges inside the mine at depths of 100, 200, and 300 feet.
This task had been carried out during the previous night. After the
prisoners had been set hewing the ore from the marked areas . I was
ordered to instruct Sgt major Mitsonobu Sakamoto the NCO in charge of
the guards, to ensure their discreet out of the mine. The toiling prisoners
were to be left to their obvious fate.
Between 8-45 and 9 am on the morning of the 2nd August 1945 All of the
guards emerged from the mine tunnel whereupon a number of steel ore
bins were pushed to the mines downward entrance and allowed to gather
speed into its depths. At 9.10 am and with no further bins to dispose
of , a signal was given to blow up the mine. I was watching from a distance
of 100 yards and witnessed a rush of smoke and dust from the mines entrance.
While waiting for the smoke and dust to clear, every available guard
was set to work dismantling the steel narrow gauge track , and then
carrying portions of it to the mines entrance .
By 10-30am or thereabouts all traces of the steel track had been removed.
From what I can recall the demolition detail then entered the mine to
set more explosives just inside the mine entrance. It was while returning
to the prison camp that I heard a very loud explosion. Looking back
I saw an avalanche of rock and earth was completely covering where the
mines entrance had been. Knowing that the mine had been collapsed in
three separate places, I was certain that the prisoners were doomed.
Upon returning to the camp I immediately reported to major Sadakichi
that the mine had been totally destroyed and all 387 POWs entombed in
its depths.
COMMENT
Because of the lateness of the hour questioning was discontinued until
the following morning.
File I 25M EXECUTION OF POWs, AIKAWA, SADO ISLAND, 2 August 1945
Resumed interrogation of former Lieutenant Yoshiro Tsuda. the former
second in command of Aikawa POW Camp, Sado. Tsuda was again closely
questioned regarding his suspected complicity in the formulating of
averred superior orders. He did not deny the Imperial Army Extermination
Order of an earlier date that specifically provided for the swift disposal
(massacre) of Allied BOWs if the home islands were threatened with invasion
or Japan with military defeat. Sado Island is the fifth largest island
in Japan and only a few miles west of Niigata, Honshu.
It was elicited from Tsuda that all of the Aikawa Camp POWs were European
and comprised a mixture of American, Dutch, Australian and British Servicemen
who had been transported to the island for slave labour from 1942 onwards.
Tsuda claimed that because of the earlier Army Extermination Order he
had no misgivings with regard to the disposal of such a large number
of prisoners of war. Supporting this explanation Tsuda pointed out that
this Imperial Army Order had not been cancelled so far as Sado Island
was concerned. Therefore he. like Major Sadakichi. was merely following
superior orders. Yoshiro Tsuda reluctantly revealed under further close
interrogation that followi ng the murder of the POWs and for the next
few days considerable activity took place in dismantling the POW camp
and removing all signs of its previous occupancy. Close upon the heels
of this atrocity came the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan and
finally its unconditional surrender. Tsuda avers in his testi ninny
that immediately following the dropping of the second bomb, all of Aikawa's
camp guards and officers received official permission to return to their
homes and await Army Transfer Orders. Because of the enormity of this
secret atrocity and with the War Ministry's full knowledge, the Imperial
armed forces Records Section subsequently issued notices purportedly
stating prior transfers of all of Aikawa's military personnel to active
service in the Kwantung Army.I)eceivingly, officers were posted as missing
or killed in action.
While this investigating officer seeks authority to proceed with this
investigation including an inspection of Sado Island. I have asked Yoshiro
'Fsuda to pencil a close sketch of the prison camps former location
and particularly the approximate area of the nearby gold mine. In the
meantime Tsuda will be held in custody
J G Godwin (Capt)
Investigating Officer
2nd Australian War Crimes Section
16th December 1949
OBSERVATION
This deception has endured for well over four years. To launch a full
investigation and obtain evidence ( the prisoners remains) is a daunting
but necessary task. It could take months
With no guarantee of success. Major MacKay opinions, upon General Willoughby
learning of this atrocity he could well prohibit any further investigation
on the grounds that with .Japanese American reconciliation. it is no
longer the time to revive or xerbate public feeling on such evil.
File 85 H. 851 Exccution of Australian and Dutch P0Ws. Laha airfield
Ambon 1942 Continuation of investigating a second massacre
I have completed the interrogation of former Warrant officer Keigo Kanamioto.
The officer commanding (L) Repair and Construction Unit of Kure No.
I. SNLP Special Navy landing party . Kanamoto was the O C during February
1942. (2) Kanaiiioto states that on or about 24 February 1942 and while
stationed at the captured Victoria Barracks at Ambon. He learned From
a Fellow officer that a further 220 prisoners would be executed 1800
hours that evening. Only he. Kanamoto. was wearing a samurai sword.
He recalls that 1st Class Seaman Shikao Nakamura and lst class Seaman
Teruji Ikezawa were two of the volunteers who accompanied him.
Acording to Kamamoto he and his said three companions did not arrive
at the scene of the executions until about 1900 hrs by which time it
was almost dark. Several bonfires had been lit and cast dancing shadows
on a spectacle reminiscent from the pits of Hell. A large group of Dutch
and Australian prisoners of war, all with their their arms and hands
securely bound behind them and heavily guarded stood waiting in the
shadows to be executed.
The punishment site was situated in the same wooded area whereheie first
mass execution of POW s at Laha had been earlier carried out. Kanamoto
states that there were two large holes of similar dimension and situated
about five metres apart. hereinafter referred to as grave A and grave
B.
Grave A was encircled by about thirty marines many of whom were carrying
borrowed swords. Among them Kanamoto perceived one officer and a couple
of NCOs whose names he could not recall. He was able to state positivcly
that no soldiers or marines stood around grave B.
Kanamoto then provided a harrowing description of what followed. He
recalls witnessing the beheading of a young prisoner who shouted desperately
and despairingly before being decapitated on the nearest side of grave
A, followed seconds later by the beheading of another prisoner on the
opposite side of the said grave. The flickering light from nearby bonfires
was insufficient to properly illuminate the carrying out of the punishments
(executions), consequently battery torches were produced and used to
light the necks of each victim.
After about twenty decapitations, curiosity impelled Kanamoto to step
forward and peer into grave A. Some corpses were headless but several
bodies with heads half-attached were .jerking feebly and making faint
gurgling moans. Kanamoto avers that a feeling of revulsion mixed with
pity swept over him, hut he could not interfere in the punishments that
had been ordered by the Japanese High Command in the area.
A little time later and with about forty executions carried out, subordinate
1st Class Seaman Nakamura borrowed Kanamoto's sword following which
he beheaded four Dutch in quick succession on the nearest side of grave
A. A short time later 1st Class Seaman Ikezawa took Kanamoto's sword
and similarly beheaded three more prisoners, this time Australians.
According to Kanarnoto, Ikezawa then passed his sword to another subordinate
(name not recalled) to behead more prisoners on the far side of grave
A.
Two further decapitations were successful, but the third attempt required
two sword strokes, a strange sound and sparks concluded the sword's
use. Kanarnoto claims that he then recovered his sword which, upon inspection
by torchlight, was found to be nicked at several places and slightly
bent.
After watching a dozen more beheadings and feeling somewhat uncomfortable
witnessing such mass butchery, Kanamoto avers that the constant shouts
of jubilation from watching marines mixed with ribald scorn as some
prisoners begged for their lives. became too much for him. He and his
subordinates made their way to the garrison office (Laha Airfield) where
he met Warrant Officer Rinnosuke Eukuda who was the relieving OC of
the garrison unit of Kure No. 1, SNLP that was stationed at Laha at
that particular time.
Kanamoto avers that he admitted, when asked by W.O. Fukada if he had
beheaded any of
the POWs, that he had. Conversely and to this investigating officer,
Kanamoto pleaded that this false admission to Fukada was to avoid losing
face' in front of the latter. Kanamoto then stated that he and his subordinates
returned to the Victoria Barracks at Amhon by launch at about 2230 hours.
During luncheon the following day, Kanamoto heard that all the POWs
(amended to 227) had been punished (executed) and that the incident
was not completed until 0130 hours in the ensuing morning. He admitted,
to avoid confusion, that though the two massacres paralleled each other
at Laha Airfield, the dates were different and so far as the second
massacre was concerned, the number of prisoners executed were far greater.
(12) Kanamoto was unable to
provide the names of any of the executioners (there were so many of
them), except those of his two subordinates; however, he did know that
the crew of a destroyed Japanese minesweeper (No. 9) were responsible
for slaughtering the majority of the Australian and Dutch POWs as an
act of vengeance.
Kanamoto strongly denied the adverse allegations made against him by
other surviving
members of Kure No. I, SNLP and contributed such mendacity to their
malevolent spite because it was known by them that he had broken the
code of silence about the incidents. It is accepted by this investigating
officer that Kanamoto is no doubt genuinely correct in his assertion,
but the opinion is also held that Kanamoto may be deceitful in his denials
of having taken no part in the beheading of prisoners which, by no stretch
of the imagination. should he described as punishments or incidents.It
is also noted that Kanamoto answered most questions in a paraphrastic
and circumbagious manner. This investigating Officer appends his name
to this report for the final time and for reasons known to
Lt Colonel DLB Goslett,.
Major Williams
and Legal Officer Major A D MacKay .
Quod Erat Demonstradum Captain J G Godwin
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