The Evening Star (December 13, 1945)
4 torpedoes hit ‘dark object,’ Jap testifies at McVay trial
Sub captain says he fired six missiles; no proof given that target was Indianapolis
By Robert Bruskin
Cmdr. Iko Hashimoto, whose Japanese submarine I-58 is believed to have sunk the cruiser USS Indianapolis, causing the death of 880 crewmen, testified today he fired six torpedoes at a “dark object” and saw four hits.
Cmdr. Hashimoto was permitted to testify by the Court-Martial Board at the Washington Navy Yard in the trial of Capt. Charles B. McVay Ill, despite pleas of defense counsel against the "grotesque proceedings.”
The short, stolid Japanese officer testified that he sighted the “dark object” about “350 degrees from Palau, about 290 miles from that island.”
There has been no testimony yet to show that the object on which he fired was the Indianapolis or that the cruiser was in that vicinity.
The Japanese officer said he trailed the target for 27 minutes after it was sighted about 11:05 on July 29. The Indianapolis was torpedoed shortly after midnight the same night. From a distance of about 1,500 meters the Japanese submarine launched five magnetic torpedoes and one “inertia” torpedo in salvos of three at three-second intervals.
Hashimoto said he saw through his periscope three hits, and a few seconds later saw another hit immediately back of the bridge. Previous testimony by survivors has brought out that there were only two explosions aboard the cruiser.
Hashimoto said he heard clearly 10 explosions. No clarification has yet been made of how the 10 explosions might have occurred with the launching of only six torpedoes.
The target on which he fired was proceeding at about 12 knots, he testified. Survivors have testified the cruiser was traveling at about 17 knots.
Hashimoto stood at attention in the courtroom while the defense and prosecution argued over minor points relating to his testimony. The court overruled all defense objections to the testimony after a plea by Capt. William P. Cady, defense counsel, who declared:
“I wish to make a formal objection to allowing one of the officers of a defeated enemy, who as a nation have been proven guilty of every despicable treachery, of the most in famous cruelties and most barbarous practices in violation of all the laws of civilized warfare, to testify against one of our own officers on a matter affecting his professional judgment.
Protests at ‘spectacle’
“I am sure I express the feeling of every American citizen, especially those who so recently fought against the Japanese, in protesting at this spectacle. This objection is not and cannot be based on legalistic grounds since our lawmakers have never imagined through the centuries of Anglo-Saxon law any such grotesque proceedings.”
Capt. Thomas J. Ryan Jr., Navy judge advocate, who is prosecuting Capt. McVay on charges of negligence and inefficiency in the loss of the cruiser, replied that only “the emotional aspects are being stressed” in the objections.
He declared that Hashimoto was not being asked to give opinions but to testify to facts – what he saw and what he did. As a matter of record, he said, many cases are being tried overseas against American forces in which enemy testimony is used.
Oath causes discussion
A lengthy discussion was caused by the nature of the oath administered to the Japanese, who said he is of the Shintoist faith.
Prior to his admission as a witness, Cmdr. Hashimoto was interrogated to determine how binding the oaths would be upon his conscience.
Speaking through two interpreters, Cmdr. John R. Bromley, a member of the Office of Naval Intelligence, and Francis R. Eastlake, 1212 North Taylor St., Arlington, who was born in Japan and spent 18 years there, Hashimoto identified himself as a “commander of the Imperial Majesty’s navy reserves” and that he had been promoted to commander on September 6, several weeks after the war’s end.
No threats or promises
“Have you received any threats or promises of any kind which might influence you in giving testimony?” he was asked by Capt. Ryan.
“I have received neither threats nor promises,” he replied.
Earlier, Capt. Cady asked if he knew “the meaning of truth and falsehood.”
“I am fully aware of the differences,” Hashimoto replied. He added that he knew he would be punished for perjury and that he would be punished during his lifetime, but that his soul would be forgiven of all perjury in the hereafter.
To the best of his knowledge, Hashimoto said his name was not on a list of any war criminals.
On completion of this preliminary testimony, the court directed that he be admitted as a witness and that two oaths be given, one the Navy oath with changes. The word “affirm” was substituted for the word “swear” and the words “this you do under pain and penalty of perjury” were substituted for the words “so help you God.”
The second was the Japanese naval court-martial oath which said: “I swear to tell the truth, neither adding thereto nor concealing any matter whatsoever.”