Miner Searle Bates revealed Japanese crimes in articles and trials

[Photo/nanjinggenpatsu.com]

Dr Miner Searle Bates (1897-1978), an American professor at Nanjing University from 1920 to 1950, was once wanted by the Japanese during WWII. Japanese troops hunted down Bates after it was discovered that he had written and published a series of articles detailing war crimes committed by them. The articles were published in foreign newspapers and journals.

As a member of the International Committee of Nanjing Safety Zone and the Nanjing Branch Committee of the International Red Cross, he risked his life to save people from mistreatment at the hands of Japanese troops. He was noted for saving a group of military officers cornered in the city.

Representing the Nanjing International Relief Committee, he made investigations into crimes committed and wrote many articles, such as "Investigation on Grains in Nanjing Area" and "Nanjing Population". The publications told of crimes committed by Japanese troops, including drug trafficking and the practice of using "Comfort Women".

Upon his return to the US in 1941, Bates delivered speeches on the Japanese army's colonial policy and alleged war crimes. After the war, he appeared in court as a witness at Tokyo Trials and Chinese trials, helping to convict Japanese war criminals.