SHELLING OF NAURU.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 69, 2 January 1941, Page 5

SHELLING OF NAURU.

JAPANESE FLAG AND NAME USED COMMENT BY MR HUGHES. CANBERRA, December 31. The Australian Minister for the Navy (Mr W. M. Hughes) stated that the Hying of the Japanese, flag on the raider that shelled Nauru Island could not he anything but compromising and unprecedented at a time when, Japan was attempting to strengthen relations with Australia. Reports received by the Naval Board firom Nauru made it impossible to: doubt that the. raider was sailing under the Japanese flag right up to the time of the attack.

“Our information places it quite beyond doubt, not only that the Japanese flag was flown but also that the ship had the name of a well-known Japanese vessel conspicuously painted on her, and was dressed in all ways to resemble a Japanese ship,” said Mr Hughes. “It was not until the raider manoeuvred to bring her guns to bear oil the island that the Jananese flag was replaced by the Nazi flag. Simultaneously Nazi flags wore dropped and displayed over the sides of the ship and froin her mast; but while the ship was shelling the island the Japanese ship’s name was not obscured.

“I imagine that in this case the Germans will have a great deal to explain to Japan,” said Mr Hughes. A Toltio message says the Berlin correspondent of “Nichi Nichi” reports that Germany admits th/e bombardment of Nauru, but denies that the raider flew Japanese colours.