CRUISER SUNK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 86, 22 January 1942, Page 5

CRUISER SUNK

BOMBED BY AMERICAN PLANES.

DARING FEAT BY TORPEDO BOAT. ATTACK AT NIGHT TIME. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 20. The sinking of a Japanese cruiser is announced in the following statement by the United States War Department: “The enemy has renewed his attack on American and Philippine troops in the Bataan Peninsula. Japanese pressure is particularly heavy at the centre of the line. The attack is being supported by aircraft. Three enemy aeroplanes have ‘been shot down in the last 24 hours. “General MacArtbur has received a report from Mindanao telling of sharp fighting now in progress between Philippine troops and Japanese about 3-5 miles north of Davao.”

A United States Navy communique announces that a United States motor torpedo-boat, in a daring night foray, entered Subic Bay, in the Philippines, and torpedoed a -5000-ton Japanese vessel.

“The operation was carried out under the fire of machine-guns and shore batteries,” says the communique. “Lieutenant John Bulkeley has been commended for executing his mission successfully. “Efiemy submarine activity is continuing off the Atlantic coast, from Cape Hatteras to Newfoundland, with attacks on additional vessels, but strong counter-measures are being taken by the Navy.” An official analysis of Dutch statements broadcast from Batavia between December 13 and January 16 shows that the Japanese had suffered the following losses in and about Malaya, the Philippines, Borneo, and the Netherlands East- Indies by action of Dutch submarines, naval and military aircraft, and coastal batteries at Tarakan:— Sunk or destroyed: Two cruisers, four destroyers, 11 transports, three tankers, one merchantman, two lighters or invasion barges, and one craft specified. Badly damaged : Three cruisers, three transports (with another two doubtful), one aircraft transport, and one craft not specified.