ENEMY SHELLING IN PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 299, 15 September 1941, Page 8

ENEMY SHELLING IN PACIFIC

Australian Denial REPORTED ACTIVITY OF RAIDERS A United Press Association message received last night quoted a Shanghai report that a German raider in the Pacific had shelled the British-man-dated Nauru Island and also the Free French group, the Society Islands (which include Tahiti). The message was referred to Mr. Sullivan, Senior Minister in Wellington, who stated that the Government had no information whatever in confirmation of the cablegram. In Australia the Minister of the Navy, Mr Hughes, issued a statement that there was no truth whatever in the report of an enemy raid on the islands mentioned. The cabled report stated: — “A German raider has shelled British supply bases at Nauru and in lhe Society Islands, causing serious damage to docking and loading facilities as well as warehouses, according ' to authentic reports received by the "New York Times” Shanghai correspondent. More Activity Forecast.” “During the bombardment an armed British supply ship arrived, but the. raider escaped because of her superior speed. “Competent observers expect increased activity by German raiders in the Pacific, especially on routes linking America, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Many of the German ships which have been tied up in Chinese and Japanese ports since the war began have sailed recently, a;id they are believed to be manned by Chinese whose occupation has been piracy. Their officers and gunners are all German.”

RAIDERS IN SOUTH PACIFIC 13 Claimed Destroyed In 1941 NEW YORK, September 12. Australian and Dutch forces have destroyed 13 German raiders in the South Pacific in the past eight months, says the Manila correspondent of the United Press. It is confirmed in America that a German raider sank the Netherlands East Indies cargo ship Kota Nopan, 1000 miles west of the Panama Canal. The raider is believed to be an armed merchantman, and probably operated from a base outside the waters guarded by the Australian and Dutch naval and air patrols. A commercial plane en route from Australia to Batavia recently observed a tanker idling in calm seas, apparently awaiting a rendezvous with a iaider. The plane reported the fact to the Dutch naval authorities, who later thanked the pilot for his valuable information.