TRIAL OF MAJOR COUSENS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 September 1946, Page 5

TRIAL OF MAJOR COUSENS

SABOTAGE OF BROADCASTS CLAIMED Reeeived Wednesdav, 9.5 p.ra. BYDXEY, Sept. 11. Imitating tlie way he alleged he trained Japunese radio announcers, Major Charles Ilughes ('oiateijs had tlie Central Court in laugliter today when the hearing of tlie t^a.son charge against Iiim was resamed. He chanteu and sang lines from Grev's Kleg'V and the dagger scene from MacBeth. Major Cousens i-laimed that hc sabotaged the Japanese anuouucers by developing in tliem a typical OrientaJ singsong intonation. ° "1 liad theni clutching daggers from all over the jilaee, " iie said. Jt was nonsense that he trained tliem witli the intent that propaganda broadeasts should bc niore. ell'ective. He luet ilargaret Ivato shortly after arriving at Radio Tokio. She tohi him she had been born and reared in Loiulon and wurned him to be eareful as everything he did and said was being noted. (She and Xakamoto warned ltim of the dangers of toning down the broadeasts. Xakamoto was an Ameriean born Japanese who Major Cousens tliought did his best to save his (Cousen \s) life. Tlie lirst bateh of announeers trained tvere not a suceess and when he" was allotted a seeond bateh he was threatened witli puiiislunent if he did not do better. He outlined a nnmber of threats made over a period of nionths, and said: "While I was in Radio Tokio, L lelt like a man walking on the edge or a preeipiee in the dark." He made up his mimi that Margnret Kato was trustworthy. He trained her in broadeastings "in the light Auntie style", believing that tliis would be ineii'eetive. Major Cousens gave details of the prograinmes wliieh he alleged he lielped to sabotage by destroying their appeat.