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Statement concerning the English Prisoners on BALLALE Island.
OZAKI, Norihiko ( ),former Commander of the 18 Construction Unit at BALLALE Island.
1. Foreward.
Because I am writing merely from memory about the days at BALLALE Island, spent in a busy and confusing atmosphere, the dates, the time, and the figures may not be accurate. However, if you refer to the records of those days of the Army and the Navy, which are probably in your hands, I am sure that they can be verified. I would like to have you understand this.
II. Outline of Progress.
- After my unit had twice failed to advance to GUADALCANAL Island we were ordered to leave BUIN on BOUGAINVILLE Island, where we were manning ready stations, in order to establish an airfield on the quest-ionable BALLALE Island. We immediately advanced (about 26 or 27 Nov 42) to BALLALE Island.
- At that time the island was uninhabited. Although it was a small island, we had made preliminary preparations aid investigations once before for the establishment of an airfield to reinforce BUIN Airfield. Our unit consisted of about 120 non-commissioned officers and men, in addition to about 800 workers, whose production strength was very low. Our orders from the 11 Naval Air Force, to which our unit was attached at that time, were as follows. "Receive your orders from the Commander of the 26 Air Force. First of all, complete the airfield within 45 (?) days. (TN Question mark was in the original document). About 4,000 workers will be sent as reinforcements."
Though I waited for the reinforcement of 4,000 men, it did not arrive. Once labourers were sent from the 4 Construction Unit of TRUK Island, but within two days they were transferred to MUNDA. (It is true that half of these laborers were ill, and we could not expect much help.) Therefore, our company requested aid for construction from the army stationed at BOUGAINVILLE Island. On the other hand, we decided to send a chief finance officer, a medical officer, and other necessary members to the nearby islands of BOUGAINVILLE, SHORTLAND, FAURO, and others, to regain the good will of the natives and to hire them as labourers.
- It was probably several days after landing on the island that we saw a comparatively large-sized transport, anchored off the coast of the island, starting to unload several hundred persons, who appeared to be prisoners. In the meantime, a 2nd Lieutenant (if my memory is correct), acting as the commanding officer, came to me and said, "I have brought 527 (?) (TN Question mark was in original document.) army prisoners from RABAUL according to orders. You may set them to work on the construction of the airfield."
However, as I had not received any previous orders or instructions either from the Naval Supreme Headquarters or from the 26 Naval Air Force, I immediately refused to accept them. However the army officer said, "Actually, I was ordered to proceed to other missions as soon as the prisoners were debarked. Your refusal will make that impossible. I will give you my word of honour that upon returning to the post, I will make certain that proper arrangements are made for you. While the prisoners are on the island, the army will be in complete control of all supervision, guidance, and management. For that reason I brought 15 guards to stay with the prisoners until the duty is completed. Because you are faced with a labour shortage, is it not better to use prisoners of war as labourers?
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