William VALLESUK [????-????]

Abridged from a statement dated February 1943 by William Vallessuk, aged 32:

"I came to Hongkong in May 1939 as an engineer of the China Electric Co Ltd Inc USA.  My work consisted of designing, constructing, and installation of radio equipment on behalf of my firm.

In May 1941, I offered a military invention to the British Government through the office of the Colonial Secretary.  The name of the invention was: "Light Beam Controlled Anti-Aircraft Aerial Torpedo", and all the necessary plans and specifications were forwarded by me to the above office.  After studying the papers, the Colonial Secretary's office informed me that they were prepared to send the papers to the Secretary for the Colonies for their final approval.  The papers were accordingly despatched shortly afterwards, but the forthcoming reply was  interrupted by the Pacific war. 

While the fight for Hongkong was on I served with the Government as member of ATS.  ...  Following immediately after the fall of Hongkong, I was approached by a young man of British origin, an escaped soldier at that time wearing civilian clothes.  It so happened that I knew him slightly before the war, as he was a student in a radio class which I used to teach in evenings.  His full name was Patrick James Mulligan, which he subsequently changed to Patrick James, in order to avoid detection.  Mr Mulligan and I became closely associated and kept our luggage together in his residence.  In my luggage there was a file containing all the correspondence with the Colonial Secretary's Office concerning my invention.   Mr Mulligan had succeeded in obtaining a Third National Identity Card from the Japanese Office after he represented himself as a subject of Irish Free State.  Simultaneously I obtained a Third National Identity Card after I had satisfied the Japanese as to my Russian origin.

A little later, however, someone reported  to the Japanese Gendarmes that Mulligan was a British subject, and I an American.   We were promptly arrested and taken to the Kowloon Central Gendarmerie Station.  Meanwhile, the Gendarmes went through our luggage with a fine comb and were keenly interested when they found the file continuing my correspondence concerning the invention.  I was summoned from my detention cell to the office of the Chief of Gendarmes, who asked me through an interpreter to produce the plans and specifications of my invention.  I told him that the plans were sent out of Hongkong, which he countered by saying that I must have some copies in my possession , to which I answered in the negative.

Actually, I did have copies of my invention in Hongkong, but they were hidden in a certain room in Marina House where the majority of the Russian population took refuge during the hostilities.  ...

Having convinced the Gendarmes that I had no copies of the plans, I was asked to reconstruct these plans anew.  To which I replied I was unable to remember the details of the invention, following which I was badly beaten and thrown back into the detention cell.  The following day, however, the Japanese Gendarmes let me go after they had once more questioned me and were convinced that I was not an American subject.  They again asked  me to divulge the details of my invention which I persistently refused to do.  Once again I was at liberty, and I returned to my residence.

Mr  Mulligan meanwhile was not so fortunate as I was.  The Gendarmes were not satisfied with his Free Irish credentials and held him in custody for over a week, giving him frequent beatings.  However, he continued to stick to his story, and in the end the Japanese got tired of questioning him and released him also.  [He later went to Shanghai]

I was continually pestered by the Gendarmes, who frequently visited my residence and persisted that I should divulge the secret of my invention.  Their methods of persuasion varied from extremely rough to comparatively polite ones.    ...

In the latter part of summer 1942 I received an unexpected visit from  the Japanese Naval Department.  A Naval Officer by the name of Iowata came to see me and told me he was to escort me to the Admiralty.   We were met by two Commanders, Commander Notegawa and Commander Hunda.  I was very politely asked to accompany the Commanders into their study where they first of all apologized for the actions of the Gendarmes and informed me that they wished to discuss my invention with me "in a gentleman manner" as they put it.  To give them credti, they have been extremely polite in all our discussions, and at no time were there any threats of beating up or arrest.  Very patiently they tried to impress upon me  that my country, Russia, and Japan were not at war with each other and, in fact, were "very good friends" (as they put it).  Equally patiently I told them that I could not remember the details of my plans and that further discussions concerned with my invention would avail nothing, and could only bring about a loss of time on their part and mine.  Following this conversation I was bid goodbye in a very polite manner and asked to reconsiders my attitude.

I made the acquaintance of Mr Monoghan through a very good friend of mine, Mr Zaizteff, a young University student whose studies had been interrupted by the war.  I revealed to Mr Monoghan my intention to escape from Hongkong, and he promised to give me aid in carrying out my plan.   Mr Monoghan has been extremely cautious in dealing with this undertaking, which is only natural as his life would be forfeited if a connection with my escape was traced to him.  I did not know until the last minute which route I would be taking, or who my companions would be, for which secrecy I can only commend Mr Monoghan.

The details of my escape will not be given here as they are presented in detail in a separate report  jointly made and signed by my companions and myself.

I have also another military invention on which I have been secretly working and which I am ready to submit to the right channels of the Nations fighting for Democracy."

Signed: William Vallessuk.

BAAG Advanced Headquarters, Waichow, Free China.