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MV Behar
A Japanese operation to attack Alied shipping in the Indian Ocean led to the sinking of the British Steamer Behar, the survivors were picked up by the IJN heavy cruiser Tone The Tones crew maltreated the Behars crew by stripping them of any valuables and the tieing them up.After complaints from Behars Chief officer who stated that the Japanes were violating the Geneva Convention, female male survivors had their ropes removed. The chief officer revived a brutal beating along with the other crew when they were taken below decks.
Admiral Sakonju sent a meesage to Captain Haruo Mayuzumi, the commanding officer of Tone, reprimanding him for not capturing the Behar and for also taking non essential prisoners (the Japanese normaly would have take Master, Captains or Senior Officers prisoners for interrogation). Sakonju ordered the survivors to be killed, Mayuzum was reluctant to carry out this order because of his Christian beliefs and radioed back to request that the prisoners be put ashore, Sakonju rejected the request. Mayuzum visited Sakonju on board the Cruiser Aoba to put his case, but it was rejected and he was told to “obey my orders”
Fearing detection the Japanese force returned to the Dutch East Indies on the 16th March, arriving at Tandjong Priok. 35 crew oif Behar were taken ashore, the remaining 69 Crew were taken out to sea, beaten and then executed.
.Links :-
MV Behar Massacre Entire Trial Transcript | COFEPOW
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