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Letters
Americans and British were reading Japanese signals, did they reveal P.O.W.'s aboard Japanese ships? Hi, I followed a link to your page regarding Japanese Hell Ships. The article indicates that the Submarine Captains involved would not have known P.O.W. were aboard the Ships. Of this I have no doubt, but as the Americans and British were reading Japanese signals I would have thought that it was known at an higher level of command. Over the years I have researched similar losses in the Mediterranean, 1941 to 1943. Although the numbers are much lower; 2,000 members of the Commonwealth forces lost, there is no doubt that Naval Command in the Middle East, but not the Submarine Commanders had prior information regarding the movement of P.O.W. I have copies of all the Ultra intercepts involving the incidents in which P.O.W. were lost. In most cases the information given is : The ships name, date and time of departure, Port of departure, Port of Destination, Speed, Nos.of P.O.W. embarked, Course and timings at several positions on that course. We also knew the names of escorting vessels, that is if they had an escort. We knew just as much as the Axis regarding the Shipping movement, and the information quite timely. Looking through the Catalogue of Japanese Ultra intercepts I see that many are still being witheld from the public domain. The question is why, after all they are over 60yrs old now. Perhaps when I have completed my present research I will have a look at the Japanese signals in the UK National Archives. Regarding the ships carrying no markings to indicate they were carrying P.O.W. Japan wasn't a signatory to the Geneva Convention, so as far as they were concerned they were not obliged to mark ships in a manner that indicated they were carrying P.O.W. The Mediterranean was a different matter. The Red Cross came up with different formulas for such markings, and although the Axis agreed to all of them the British did'nt. A formula for protecting P.O.W. and Internees while they were being shipped from one place to another was never agreed on by the British Government.We didn't need ships marking as Ultra already told us what ships were carrying P.O.W. I also have copies of the Files that contain details of the negotiations. Regards,
My thanks for your interesting mail, would the higher command, particularly in the Pacific, be concerned that by passing POW ship information down the chain of command to the level of individual Submarine Captains, the fact that we were reading the Japanese Codes may be compromised? Regarding Japan and the Geneva Convention, as you have indicated, by not being a signatory thay had no need to mark their ships, they were always a law unto themselves as far as their treatment of POW's. If they had marked their ships it should have ensured a safe journey for both their shipping and the POW's carried. The total devastation of Japanese shipping by the US submarine fleet in the Pacific was one basic reason that the nation was brought to its knees. I am grateful for you time and interest. Regards,
Exactly my conclusions which more and more people are beginning to agree with. Although I had all the intelligence which proved so I spent three years looking for any alternative answer. There was none to be found. Over the years there have been many articles published which relate to my research and conclusions, but there are still those who do not want to think that we would have been so ruthless. There are none so blind as those who do not want to see. The British objections were based on fears of the markings being misused, or Red Cross ships being boarded and the prisoners being released. Rather odd as I am sure you will have heard of the Gradisca and the Acquiles. In the UK we have a National Memorial Arboretum located in Staffordshire. Six or so years ago I commisioned a Memorial to those who died in the Mediterranean as P.O.W's. The wording across the bottom was SACRIFICED, which those in charge at the time were satisfied with. There were about 80 of us present,which included 3 survivors, representatives from two Regiments with the rest made up of families of those lost. Best Wishes, |
