Jap Trials At Manus

Court Named

11HE trials of suspected Japanese war criminals at Manus Island, which were expected to begin on May 1 now will begin in early June.

Postmonement is to give Japanese de fence counsel time to prepare their cases.

The Court, which was appointed by the Australian Government at the end of March, comprises:— President: Mr. Justice Townley, of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Members: Lieutenant-Colonel N. F.

Quinton (Vic.); Major E. J. Gerling (NSW), Major N. McLeod (NSW), Major G. G. Schneider (Qld.), Major H. F. Hayes (NSW), and Captain W. E. Clarke (NSW).

The prosecuting team will comprise: Major H. F. Foster (Vic.), Major G.

Mclntyre (NSW), Major A. D. Mackay (WA), and Major D. B. Hunter (NSW).

The Court will leave for Manus in May.

The Japanese defence team was due to sail from Japan in the Taiping on April 4.

MR. JUSTICE TOWNLEY will be re leased from the Queensland Supreme Court Bench, to which he was appointed last year, to conduct the trials.

He practised as a barrister in Towns ville before enlisting as a private in the AIF in 1941. After being discharged as medically unfit he re-enlisted, and served for 4i years.

In 1942 he received his commission and in 1943 he joined the Australian Army Legal Corps.

In 1945 Major Townley returned from Borneo to Morotai, and was appointed Judge Advocate for the first war crime trials held by the Australian Army. Later, as Acting Deputy Director of Legal Ser vices in that area, he reviewed war crime trial proceedings.