MILLION DAMAGE AT NAURU

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 308, 28 December 1940, Page 7

MILLION DAMAGE AT NAURU

Shells Hurled In At Short Range

PLANT WRECKED

Raider Used Japanese Flag In Dastardly Attack

(United Tress Association.-Copyright.-Recd. noon.) . MELBOURNE, this day. An enemy raider, which heavily shelled Nauru Island yesterday- morning, ,s believed to have done nearly £1,000,000 damage to the Phosphate Commission s plant and buildings. The raider sailed to point blank range and hurled shells into the plant, which is concentrated on the foreshore. The general manager of the Phosphate Commission, Mr. A. HL Gaze said the damage done would probably be irreparable. Ihe buildings and plant were valued at £2,000,000 He believes the raider s purpose was to destroy the huge cantilever loader the powerhouse, the administrative buildings, the wireless station and any ships loading at the island. It is not yet known how far the enemy succeeded in its purpose. Island Entirely Undefended. The Prime Minister Mr. R. G. Menzies, announced last night ttat the raider heavily shelled the island shortly after daybreak. The raider attacked under a Japanese name and Japanese colours. Mr. Menzies added: "Nauru is entirely undefended against such an attack, and must be so under the terms of the League of Nations mandate by which it is administered. This fact is well known to the enemy, and in itself removes any justification whatsoever for his action. "The crime is aggravated by the fact that he used neutral colours—those of a country with which we are at peace." The Japanese Navy and other official sources have no information regarding the raider, but they said it would be regarded as a serious matter if the report that she was flying Japanese colours was substantiated, says a Tokyo message.