Dear Anthony Thanks for your reply. Periodically throughout my life I have heard stories that the Centaur was sunk in retaliation for Allied attacks on a Japanese hospital ship or ships. The most recent yesterday at a Centaur Memorial Service. I am secretary and founder of the 2/3 AHS Centaur Association established in 1999 for survivors, descendants, relatives and friends, or indeed anyone with any sort of interest in the Centaur. Rumours surrounding the Centaur are rife and still surfacing after 63 years. They are very hurtful to those whose lives have been affected by her loss, and I am trying to verify or scotch as many as I can. If this allegation is just another rumour, I need to be able to state factually that the Allies did not attack Japanese hospital ships. But I need concrete evidence - which of course is very hard to find in the negative. Perhaps the way for me to go is to follow your line that Japan didn't have hospital ships, or ships that were internationally recognized as such. Thanks again

Jan The claim that allies had attacked Japanese hospital ships was first aired 38 hours after the Centaur was sunk. As the Naval official historian states it could have been a coincidence but it suggests an attempt to forestall an Australian announcements and condemnation of the attack on the Centaur. See http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/25/chapters/09.pdf pages 257-261. Anthony -----Original Message----- From: Jan Thomas [mailto:jthomas4@bigpond.net.au] Sent: Saturday, 13 May 2006 10:21 PM To: AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [AUS-MIL] Hospital Ships Dear Anthony Thanks for your reply. Periodically throughout my life I have heard stories that the Centaur was sunk in retaliation for Allied attacks on a Japanese hospital ship or ships. The most recent yesterday at a Centaur Memorial Service. I am secretary and founder of the 2/3 AHS Centaur Association established in 1999 for survivors, descendants, relatives and friends, or indeed anyone with any sort of interest in the Centaur. Rumours surrounding the Centaur are rife and still surfacing after 63 years. They are very hurtful to those whose lives have been affected by her loss, and I am trying to verify or scotch as many as I can. If this allegation is just another rumour, I need to be able to state factually that the Allies did not attack Japanese hospital ships. But I need concrete evidence - which of course is very hard to find in the negative. Perhaps the way for me to go is to follow your line that Japan didn't have hospital ships, or ships that were internationally recognized as such. Thanks again ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== Milton Ulladulla Boer War & WW1 http://www.shoalhaven.net.au/~cathyd/war/