NAURU WARNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 309, 30 December 1940, Page 4

NAURU WARNED.

WARSHIPS ABSENT. NAZI FLAG HOISTED. WIRELESS RE-ESTABLISHED. SYDNEY, December 29. The Minister of the Navy, Mr. W. M. Hughes, stated that radio communication with Nauru Island had now been re-established. He disclosed that the name used by the raider was either Nanyo Maru or Manyo Maru, both of which appear in Lloyd's Register. Giving an account of the bombardment, Mr. Hughes said that in the semi-darkness just before dawn on Friday the German raider signalled a warning to the Nauru, radio station not to use its wireless. It added it was going to shell the phosphate loading jetties and obedience to the order would save destruction of human life and property. Then, having satisfied itself that no warships were in sight, it hoisted the Nazi flag and opened fire at point-blank range. The raider shelled the potash etore and.loading gear, cantilever loading jetty and the cantilever shore storage and all the oil storage tanks. The oil fuel tanks are still blazing, but the power station is intact. No private houses were fired upon. Nobody was injured.

Mr. Hughes added that an Australian "warship is on the raider's trail.

A Preea Association message from London states that the Berlin radio, commenting on Mr. Hughes' statement that the Nauru raider hoisted the German flag before firing, says the Australian Minister's statement confirms the German contention that a German warship would operate only under the German flag and that propaganda to any other effect is false.