|
Burma
Liberated Rangoon Jail
Interrogation and Treatment
Interrogation 2
Mentioned In Sec VI (2) was interrogated by the Japanese in the following manner:-
He was taken into a small room, made to sit on the floor, and immediately the Japanese started questioning him.
He gave his name, rank and number, and said that he could answer no more questions. They immediately beat him up with the shaft of a golf club and kicked him. After 15 minutes one of the guards went away and came back with an electric shocking coil. The electrodes from thig coil were attached to each of the PoW’s thumbs and they started to run a current through his hands. This had been going on for, a few minutes when a very old Japanese Officer, approximately 60 years of age, walked into the room, and ordered that it should be stopped.
The guards left the room and the old, Japanese Officer, who spoke very good English, asked the PoW why he was being beaten up. He told him that it was because he had refused to give away military information. The Japanese Officer then asked him why he did not give them some sort of information even if it was false, and pointed out that at the very least this course of action would stop him from being beaten up any more.
This Officer treated the PoW remarkably well and at once brought him food and milk and never at any time did he ask any more questions of a serece nature.
The Officer then went on to explaln that he had been In the banking business prior to the war and had travelled extensively in England and America. He added that he was
all against this war and that his trade at the moment was that of Lt. Quartermaster. He also arranged for the PoW to receive medical attention whilst he was at Yenanyaung.
Throughout, the PoW stated, this Officer came to see him practically every day.
A little later the PoW was again interrogated by another Army Officer, but told him that he had only just arrived in India, and that he had been on leave staying at the Grand Hotel in Calcutta when he had been recalled and that he had been taken by Troop Carrier to an aerodrome where they had landed very late at night.
The PoW said he had been sent off on an operation early the next morning, and as a result of this he did not know much about the squadron and had not even met the C.O.
When asked what job he had been given on this operation, he stated that he had merely been sent out to photograph the country. He also stated that he knew nothing about the armament of the aircraft as it was entirely new to him.
The Japanese also asked him how our aircraft were brought to India, to which replied that he thought they came via Russia.
He was kept at Yenanyaung for five days and was then taken by lorry to Meiktila. On this trip the guard treated him very well and did their best to make him comfortable.
Finally, a few days later, he was taken to Rangoon and placed in solitary continement.
|
