Q. But was it not a fact that on that occasion the ship’s crew and the prisoners of war cooked separately?

A. The prisoners of war lost every cooking utensil and that was why we could not cook separately, fortunately the ship’s crew could maintain some of their cooking utensils and those cooking utensils were used for all.

Q. Then did everyone on board have the same food?

A. Yes.

Q. What happened after the Asaka Maru went aground?

A. After that we were rescued by two Coast defence ships and we were taken to Keeloon, one of the ports in Formosa . . .

Q. What kind of a ship was the Hakusan Maru?

A. The Hakusan Maru was a passenger boat.

Q. Did the Hakusan Maru sail by herself or did she sail in a convoy?

A. She sailed in a convoy . . .

Q. What part of the ship did the prisoners of war occupy on board the Hakusan Maru?

A. All of them were accommodated in the passengers cabins.

Q. What was the sanitary arrangement?

A. It was a passenger boat, therefore it had a perfect sanitary system. It had individual lavatories.

Q. Any special compartment given to the sick?

A. Yes we had special sick rooms for the sick.

Q. Were they allowed to make use of the decks of the ship?

A. Soon after we boarded the ship we were not allowed to make use of the decks. Then I approached the Ship’s master and the Ship’s master eventually allowed them to make use of the decks about 30 minutes a day in the morning and in the afternoon to have their bath and exercise. But I thought that was not sufficient for the sick and I approached the Ship’s master again but I was rejected first. Then I approached the Japanese Medical Officer who came on board at Keeloon and made him to approach the Ship’s master again. After the Medical Officer had seen the Ship’s master we finally could allow the prisoners of war sick to make use of the decks from 8 a.m. in the morning until 1600 hours in the evening.

Q. How was that they were not allowed to use the decks soon after they went on board?

A. The reason was that when too many people crowded on decks there was every possibility of an attack by submarines.

Q. Any special measures taken during the night?

A. There was a black out between 1730 hours and 6 a.m. in the morning and all the portholes were closed by the Ship’s crew and covered with black curtains . . .

Q. Did the convoy including the Hakusan Maru reach Moji safely?

A. The convoy was attacked by submarines soon after leaving Keeloon, one of the ships in front of Hakusan Maru was sunk.

Q. Did you hear anything from the Ship’s master after that?