SURVIVORS OF SEA RAIDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1941, Page 6

SURVIVORS OF SEA RAIDS

Mr. Fraser's announcement of the rescue of the survivors of ships sunk in recent weeks by an enemy sea raider in the Pacific will come as a relief to friends and relatives here and elsewhere. The number of survivors is given as five hundred. They were landed by the raider on a small island in the Pacific north of New Guinea and have been rescued by a ship from Australia. They are from seven ships, which are named, and there were some casualties. Among these are some New Zealanders and six members of the pai-ty which acted as escorts to British children sent to Australia. They were returning to Britain. Great sympathy will be felt for those who mourn the loss of these gallant souls homeward-bound after an errand of mercy well accomplished. New Zealanders will join with the Prime Minister in his congratulations to the survivors on their safety. The whole incident, which cannot be considered closed so long as the raider is afloat and at large, illustrates a peril of war that concerns New Zealand and Australia very deeply and may have important consequences. The waters of the Pacific and Indian Ocean cannot recover their security, normal even in wartime, up to a few months ago, until the career of the enemy raider is ended. There is every confidence in the power of the Navy to bring about that happy event.