23 Australian Dead
p. 67 · Read in the full issue
Jap Admiral Hung for Crime
ON March 16, in Hongkong Gaol, the arrogant Japanese Admiral, Tamura Ryukichi was hanged.
Thus, in a small degree, was vengeance taken for the murder of 23 men. mostly Australian civilians, in New Ireland, in 1944.
The Admiral, who was in charge of that area, was tried in Hongkong by an Aus tralian War Crimes Court.
The 23 Australians (one of whom was the 14-year-old son of H. J. Topal) were captured by the Japs in New Ireland in 1942, and interned near Kavieng. In that year, Tamura ordered a Commander Yoshino to execute the prisoners if an Allied landing appeared likely. The order was put into effect about March, 1944, by a Lieut.-Commander Mori. Three other
Japs carried out the execution by strangu lation methods.
All six Japanese involved were found guilty and sentenced.