I cannot express the revulsion I feel at this unnecessary act of
cruelty. Its limitless savagery represents the continuation of a
calculated attempt to create a sense of trepidation through the
practice of horrors designed to shock normal sensibilities.
The brutal excesses of the Philippines campaign, the execution of our
captured airmen, the barbarity of Papua, are all of a pattern. The
enemy does not understand - he apparently cannot understand - that
our invincible strength is not so much of the body, as it is of the
soul, and rises with adversity.
The Red Cross will not falter under this foul blow. Its light of
mercy will but shine the brighter on our way to inevitable
victory.
It is with the deepest regret that the Commonwealth Government has
learned of the loss of the Australian hospital ship "Centaur" and I
know that the news will come also as a profound shock to the
Australian people. The attack which took place within a few miles of
the Queensland coast bears all the marks of wantonness and
deliberation. Not only will it stir our people into a more acute
realisation of the type of enemy against whom we are fighting, but I
am confident also that this deed will shock the conscience of the
whole civilised world and demonstrate to all who may have had any
lingering doubts the unscrupulous and barbarous methods by which the
japanese conduct warfare.
To the next-of-kin of those who are lost the Government and nation
extend heartfelt sympathy, which is the deeper since those persons
were non-combatants engaged on an errand of mercy, and were by all
the laws of warfare immune from attack.
The full circumstances of the sinking of the "Centaur" are as
follows:-
The "Centaur" was at 4 o'clock in the morning of Friday 14th May a
short distance off the Queensland coast. The weather was fine and
clear, and the visibility was good. The ship was brightly illuminated
in accordance with the Geneva Convention. Illuminations, in addition
to the usual navigation lights, consisted of red crosses on each side
of the hull, red crosses on each side of the funnel, a large red
cross directed upwards on the poop, and rows of brilliant white
lights along the sides of the hull to illuminate the characteristic
green painted band - in this case five feet wide - which encircles
hospital ships. On board the "Centaur" at the time were 352 persons,
consisting solely of the ship's crew and medical personnel, including
twelve nurses. There were no wounded on board. In all there were only
64 survivors including one nurse. Remaining 288 persons, including
members of the ship's crew, nurses and other medical personnel, lost
their lives.
Notice of intention to use the "CENTAUR" as a hospital ship, together
with particulars of her dimensions, markings, and appearance, was
communicated by the Commonwealth Government to the Axis Powers early
this year; in the case of Japan on February 5th. In addition, full
publicity including photographs of the ship was given in the Press,
and particulars were broadcast in news broadcasts from Australian
radio stations.
There is therefore no reason to suppose that the Japanese Government
and the Japanese naval authorities were not fully acquainted with the
existence and purposes of this vessel. In all the circumstances, the
Commonwealth Government is bound to regard the sinking of the
"Centaur" as an entirely inexcusable act undertaken in violation of a
convention to which Japan is a party and of all the principles of
common humanity. An immediate and strong protest in these terms is
being addressed to the Japanese Government, and the country may feel
confident that the Government will do its utmost to establish right
of redress and ensure that the war criminals responsible for this
dastardly act are brought to justice.'
My colleagues and I are greatly shocked at the sinking of the
hospital ship Centaur. Please accept our deep sympathy with Australia
in this tragic loss of life.