JAPS WASTE EFFORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 5

JAPS WASTE EFFORT

FUTILITY OF ATTACK

SYDNEY, June 8. Sydney's coastal defences went into action with artillery and heavy machine-guns when the first of the shells from the submarine screamed over the suburbs. Gun crews rushed to action stations, wearing pyjamas and greatcoats. The sole casualty in Sydney was a man who was injured when a shell passed through the wall of his flat. His leg was broken by falling bricks. The man, who is an electrical engineer, is a refugee who came five years ago from Germany. The shelling of both Sydney and Newcastle is believed to have been from guns of light calibre. Several flare shells were fired in Newcastle, lighting up the sky. The damage was light. Blast from the shells shattered windows in nearby houses, and one of the shells, which landed in a roadway, made a small crater three feet in diameter and a foot deep. LIGHTS ORDERED OUT. National Emergency Service wardens who were quickly at their posts both in Sydney and Newcastle made the rounds of their districts and ordered people to put out all lights. People in night attire went to the shelters, taking with them warm coverings and food. Sirens sounded the alert in all Sydney suburbs, and the belief that an air raid was imminent prevailed. The main task of the wardens was to move from the streets people curious to have a grandstand view of the excitement. There was no panic anywhere, but people were generally curious. No planes were reported near Sydney, and it has been officially stated that the alert was sounded merely as a precaution. The most noteworthy feature of the Japanese attacks on the southern Australian mainland has been their futility. The damage done in Monday morning's shelling qf Sydney and Newcastle was less than that caused by any heavy storm. The effect on morale was nil. Australia has again received a salutary lesson of the need for ceaseless vigilance, and the lesson has been learned at gratifyingly small cost. REPETITION POSSD3LE. Repetition of the raids is regarded as possible. Two submarines are reported to have been seen off the coast by some watchers during the Sunday attack. The damage, which is estimated at some hundreds of pounds, was restricted to private dwellings. An official Allied headquarters communique describes the attack as a "nuisance" raid. Newcastle had warning that an attack was likely. The alert was sounded under orders from Sydney, and emergency service wardens were at their posts when the first shots were fired. The Sydney wardens' posts were all manned within 10 minutes of the siren warning. The submarine which attacked Sydney did the shelling from six miles out to sea, it has been estimated. The coastal defence guns played an important part in making the raid a brief affair. They fired at the gun flashes of the submarine. No hits are claimed, but the gunners believe they made the area unhealthy and forced the raider to dive. SUBMARINE FORCE SENT. Some military commentators estimate that Japan has sent a force of fully 20 submarines, including the midgets, to operate off the south-teas!-ern coast of Australia. Seven, and possibly eight, have been destroyed, including four midgets. ■ Most observers do not believe the submarine raids were a diversionary move designed to draw off the forces