PACIFIC RAIDERS
12 Said To Be Arming In Japanese Ports ALLEGED NAZI PLAN Helping In A Hoped For Southward Push
(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) Received December 29, 11.40 p.m. MANILA, December 28. It is reliably stated that United States naval circles are giving very close attention to a report of the arming of at least 12 German -vessels which are at present in harbours in Japan and Japanese controlled harbours in China lor raiding activities in the Pacific. It is understood that several are already engaged in provisioning and refuelling German raiders at present active in Australian and Indian waters, probably making a rendezvous in islands under Japanese mandate. It is reported that the most recent incident was the action of the Norwegian tanker Olav Jakob, manned by a German prize crew which entered Kobe, refuelled and departed in spite of protests from the Norwegian Minister. It is also stated that two German vessels, the Ragensburg and Kimberland. left Japan late in October, and have not yet returned, while the Elsa Essberger, Durgenland. Scharnhorst and Aneanliese are at Kobe and the Dairen-Saarland and Elbe Qdenwald are at Yokohama kept constantly fuelled and provisioned; It is said that three German vessels are at present at Tsingtao, China, and that three others in Chinese ports are at present being armed. An authoritative United States defence, official expressed the opinion that the German vessels, which will be completely armed by the middle of January, constitute Hitler's aid to Japan in starting south-ward expansion, which will be timed to coincide with action by Germany in south-east Europe —immobilizing the United States fleet in the Pacific while Britain urgently needs naval assistance in the Mediterranean,
lie said that foreign intelligence' reports indicated that numerous Germans have been arriving in Japan for months past and that Hitler is exerting pressure on Japan to put a "squeeze” on the United States while Hitler strikes in Europe. Naval circles understand that the German vessels will not only be used as commerce raiders in an effort to drive British shipping from the routes in the Pacific and Indian Ocean but also may be used as the vanguard of (he Japanese moves to the Dutch East Indies. They say that it is understood that tremendous troop movements from central and south China to Formosa and Hainau Island are taking place. All preparations are completed for a southward push. However, it is pointed out that no Kwantung (North China) units have been moved, indicating that the Japanese fears of Russia are not dissipated. A message from Shanghai says the “North China Daily News” quotes “reliable sources” as claiming that the Olav Jakob carried a Norwegian crew from the s.s. Talleyrand, which the Germans sunk. It states that members of the Talleyrand’s crew .were transferred to the Scharnhorst at Kobe. However, the prisoners signalled another Norwegian vessel, after which the Norwegian authorities protested to Japan. The Japanese searched the Scharnhorst and released the Norwegians, who boarded the Empress of Asia and proceeded to Singapore.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 81, 30 December 1940, Page 8
Word Count
502PACIFIC RAIDERS Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 81, 30 December 1940, Page 8
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