Five Hundred Recovered

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1941, Page 8

Five Hundred Recovered

MAROONED ON SMALL ISLAND

Losses From Several Ships

Five hundred persons who were taken from a number of British ships and a Norwegian vessel by an enemy commerce raider in the Pacific have been recovered from the island of Emirau (better known as Squally Island), in the Bismarck Group, off the northern coast of New Guinea, where they were marooned by the raider on December 21. Their rescue was announced by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) on Tuesday night. Mr. Fraser also stated that a number of persons had lost their lives when some of the sunken ships were attacked.

DEFENCE OF THE TURAKINA.

Mr. Fraser announced that it had been reported that the Turakina had put up a gallant fight against the raider. It was reported (though confirmation was still awaited) that the Turakina.had held the raider off for two and a half hours, and until only twenty-three members of the crew survived.

It was also believed, said Mr. Fraser, that survivors from the Turakina, the Notou (a French ship), and the Ringwood (a Norwegian ship), and possibly men in the Services from other vessels, were still on Board the raider. No news of their landing had been

received.