THE RAID ON NAURU.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 147, 3 April 1941, Page 5

THE RAID ON NAURU.

REPORT BY THE COMMISSION.

COMMENT BY M R W. M. HUGHES.

CANBERRA, April 2

The failure of the authorities at Nauru to notify vessels of the approach of a German raider could he attributed either to treachery or gross negligence, said the Minister for the Navy (Ml- W., AT. Hughes) in the House of Representatives tq-day.

Air Hughes was commenting on the report of the New Zealand Government Commission. Jt was olivious that the presence of the raider, or that it was within range of Nauru, was known, which fact, Air Hughes* emphasised, ought to have been wirelessed to every ship within a radius of 1000 miles of the island.

The Acting-Premier (All- A. W. Fadden) supplemented All* Hughes’s comment. He added that the Commonwealth Government was looking forward to receiving a copy of the New Zealand Commission’s report. It was also intended to ask the administration of Nauru for a report on the German raid on Nauru. Appropriate action would be taken if the circumstances warranted.

CAPTAIN MILLER DEFENDED. (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 2. Adrcssing the United Service Institution, Air Fa H. Hopkins (former chief officer of the Rangitane) defended Captain Miller, whom the New Zealand Commission criticised for not wirelessing the presence of the raiders. Ah Hopkins said that Captain Miller told him that four raiders surrounded the Holmwood 30 miles from the Chatham Islands and ordered him not to broadcast any message. He Avas confronted with Hobson’s Choice the Holmwood Avas unarmed and the Chatham radio at that particular hour was off the air. Furthermore, Captain Miller said he had no hope of raising Ncav Zealand.