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?

A. Then the Ship’s master instructed me to be very strict about black outs and limitations of the usage of the decks. He told me that we were in the most dangerous waters and we had to be prepared for any possible attack all the time and to abandon ship at any time.

Q. Did you have any sick cases during the voyage from Singapore to Moji?

A. We had sick cases amongst the Japanese as well as the prisoners of war.

Q. What kind of sickness did you have?

A. According to the prisoners of war Medical Officer there were recurrence of malaria, beri beri and diarrhoea.

Q. How many deaths were there on this Hakusan Maru?

A. As far as I remember there were 10.

Q. What do you attribute the deaths to?

A. I don’t know what actually attribute to that but according to the reports made by the medical officer it was stated that the reasons were malaria, beri-beri or diarrhoea cases.

Q. Did you not have any dysentery case?

A. No we did not have any dysentery case.

Q. Any dead?

A. Yes we had.

Q. How many died?

A. I remember there were 13 death cases.

Q. What was the reason?

A. According to the prisoners of war Medical Officer the reasons were malaria, beri beri and diarrhoea.

Q. Any other reason apart from these?