170A/4
1-
6.
7.
8.
-2-
184
cramped his style about escaping. The Japanese gendarmerie, a "truly Gestapo organisation", questioned them closely, and especially Mr. Sloss, Prof. Faid and the writer who had three hours' grilling. The University people were interned on
31st Jan. but the writer got permission to do some operations in a hospital and so stayed out. The internment quarters for the University staff are in the civil prison, European and Indian warders' quarters, and in a large school at Stanley. The writer says they are nice enough places except for the lousy Indian quarters, but very confined for 3,000 people. The rations are two meals a day of rice and occasionally some fish or meat in small quantities. The prisoners have their Committees of Management.
•
MISS PHYLLIS HARROP, who was lady Assistant to the Secret- ary for Chinese Affairs, escaped and arrived in Chungking on March 11th. She left Hỏng Kong at the end of January. She stated to the Press that equal treatment is given to Chinese and Europeans. The civilian prisoners, American, Dutch and British men and women are interned at Stanley. The prisoners of war are in two camps on the mainland, at Shanshuipo and Argyle £ St., Kowloon. The civilians are in the buildings formerly used for schools and residences. In all there are some 3,700 people, 3,000 British, 600 American and some 70 Dutch. She said she had nó knowledge of the number of prisoners of war or of their treatment beyond a scarcity of food. As to diet she confirms that internces get two bowls of rice a day to which is added a very little vegetable. Occasionally a little fish is added but no meat. No foreign food was available as the Japanese had taken the stocks and sent them to Japan. There was some food for sale on the streets where Chinese could but it and send it to their interned friends. No visitors were allowed in the civilian camps. Money was a difficulty, H. K. notes being acceptable up to ten dollars at the rate of two for one. She confirms the previous writer's report of LOOTING, and adds that industry has ceased, unemployment is rife and food will soon become a major problem for the Japanese. The Japanese had disclaimed any knowledge of the Geneva Convention for the Treatment of Prisoners and were given a copy by our Government but had not yet implemented the rules. The wounded and sick were turned out of hospitals. As to ATROCITIES she says: "I am able to confirm at first hand that shocking atrocities were committed of which Chinese as well as Europeans were the victims. My own houseboy was killed. He was bayonetted in the stomach for no apparent reason. Fourteen other Chinese were killed in the same house. My own amah was raped by three or four....Foreign women were also raped including an English woman of my acquaintance who was first slashed in the face with a soldier's belt. Her husband found her dead body with bayonet wounds in the stomach. The Japanese shot none of their victims but invariably bayonetted them to death." She gives us no details of either mass or individual outrages on white women.
A letter smuggled out to Chungking by MRS. CARMAN in the Stanley Camp and quoted by G. A. Fitch, Texaco, Chungking, tells of the busy life led by the inmates. She confirms the numbers and the diet given above and says that they do their own work, cleaning, building kitchens etc. She mentions a bit of soup and vegetable in the dict.
Another first-hand witness is MR. BENNY PROUL, who writes on 26.3.42 from c/o British Consul, Kunming. He says:- "Strong rumours from the city are that the Japs are being tough on Sir Vandeleur (Grayburn, M.nager of the HK. & S. Bank) for not co-operating with the Japs and that he is interned at Stanley with all other civilians, except the lily-livered ones that are playing ball with the Japs, and I am told that plenty
!
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.