JAP. SUBS. IN TASMAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1942, Page 5

JAP. SUBS. IN TASMAN

THREE SHIPS ATTACKED

ONE SUNK—LIVES LOST

SURVIVORS RESCUED BY NAVY

SYDNEY, June 4. Enemy submarines have attacked two small cargo vessels, thirty-five miles east of Sydney, and also a third ship, twenty-five miles south of Sydney. One of the vessels was sunk. The other two escaped undamaged. The Allied Headquarters, in a communique announcing these attacks, give no further details. It does not indicate which vessel was sunk, or if casualties were caused. N° re . fer “ ence is made to the nationality of the ships, or to the times of the attacks. It is believed, however, that all of the three ships were merchant vesseis. These are the first submarine attacks ever made on shipping off the eastern coast of Australia. Whether the attackers were midget submarines, such as attempted to raid Sydney harbour last Sunday night, or whether they are ocean-going craft has not been disclosed. However, it is generally believed that the attacks have been made by larger submarines, of which Japan is known to have had at least eighty when the war started. Her types included ocean-going, coastal and mine-lay-ing vessels. The Japanese ocean-going submarines of the “Kaigun” type have been reported to have an amazing range, up to sixteen thousand miles. Twenty-five of this type are believed to have been built.

The range of the “Kawasaki” type of Japanese submarines, each displacing up to twenty-live hundred tons, is estimated at twenty-five hundred miles. They carry six 21inch torpedo tubes, and two 5.5-inch guns. Japan possesses at least four of these vessels. It is believed that the attacking submarines are being pursued. SURVIVORS’ NARRATIVE. SYDNEY, June 4. Further details of Japanese attacks on ships in the Tasman Sea show that a large ocean-going submarine has been participating. A party of survivors from one ship which was torpedoed and sunk, have been landed at an Australian port. Describing the action of the submarine, which they stated to be a large one, they saw it open heavy lire. Only one of the life-boats could be used, but rafts got free of the wreckage. A torpedo hit the vessel about amidships, and she sank in four minutes. Of the crew of twelve, three were lost, including the captain and wireless operator, who kept at his post sending signals, which brought a naval vessel to the scene. WIRELESS OPERATOR’S HEROISM (Recd. 9.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 5. Torpedoed without warning at sea on Wednesday night, an Australian coastal freighter sank in less than five minutes. Twelve survivors who reached an Australian port told how the wireless operator, Stafford, stayed at his post when the ship was going down. They believe that they were rescued because of his devotion hi continuing to send out the ship’s position. The crew numbered 50, but the attack came so suddenly it is feared that many were killed by the explosion. A boat containing 25 members of the crew has not yet been found. It is feared that the captain, the third officer, and the wireless operator lost their lives. The survivors, who were afloat for an hour and a-half on two rafts, were clad only in light night attire. They were nearly frozen by the icy wind and high seas, when they were picked up by a naval vessel. One of the ship’s lifeboats was .smashed by the explosion, and filled with water as soon as it was launched. A second boat was successfully launched, and the survivors believe that this boat was sighted by a plane, and hope that it will be picked up. After the ship sank, a submarine surfaced. It was of the large oceangoing type. After cruising round for a short time, it submerged. JAP. SHIPS SUNK LONDON, June 4. Success gained by an Allied submarine against Japanese shipping are reported from General MacArthur’s headquarters in Australia. The submarine sank two heavilyladen armed Japanese supply ships of 10,000 tons each, and damaged another of 7000 tons. It also sank a 6000-ton troop transport. It is believed that most of the troops on this ship were drowned. BIG EVENTS COMING ? (Recd. 1.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 5. Many Japanese troops are believed to have been drowned when the Allied submarine sank the six-thousand ton armed enemy transport, mentioned in yesterday's communique, says the “Herald’s” Melbourne correspondent. The submarine raid is the Allies’ biggest single blow at Japanese naval units in the South-west Pacific since the Coral Sea battle was announced. The location of the losses is not being disclosed at present, but the communique's reference to “enemy shipping lanes,” suggests the ships were attacked in the island zone close to the limits to which Japanese communications have spread. The Japanese are accustomed to packing their transports so tightly that the soldiers have little more room than suffices for them to sit, or lie side by side. It is reliably estimated that a ship of the tonnage of that lost, would carry several thousand Japanese troops. The “Telegraph’s” Melbourne correspondent says: The communique contained the first official mention of major enemy troop and supply movements, since the closing of the Coral Sea battle early in May. The announcement of the sinking gives added significance to the almost nonstop series of conferences in the last few days between the High Command and air and naval commands. The same atmosphere of tension and activity exists as in the few days before the Coral Sea battle.

SYDNEY HARBOUR RAID. FOUR SUBMARINES SUNK. CANBERRA, June 4. Four submarines tried to enter Sydney Harbour on Sunday night, and all were destroyed. Only one was able to make an attack. This news was revealed to a cheering House to-day by Mr Curtin. He added: “Though the Coral Sea naval action was a signal success for the Allied forces, averting an immediate threat to Australian territory, it was nothing more than tne first round of a fight which is going to be long and hard. The enemy submarine attack on Sydney Harbour has emphasised the need for ceaseless vigilance, and it has solved any lingering doubts that any one might have had that Australia is in the front line.” In Sydney Harbour, the work of salvaging one of the wrecked midget submarines is now nearing completion. The submarine, with a vicious looking torpedo protruding from a

tube in its nose, was brought to the surface to-day. The midget vessel is about 40 feet long, with a beam of between four and five feet. On its battered bow are the jagged teeth of a net cutter. The- craft is reported as not sturdily built, and the hull is severely dented in several places. DETAILS OF JAP. CRAFT.

(Rec. 9.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 5, One of the Japanese submarines which raided Sydney harbour on Sunday night was partially raised today. A naval officer who took part in the salvage operation, said to-night that the submarine was larger than had been thought—probably between 50 and 60 feet long. When operations ceased to-night, more than 20 feet of the submarine were above water. As the raider was lifted clear by a crane, water poured from the seams in its long cigar-shaped body. It is now known that the submarine filled with water after the seams nad been opened during operations against the raiders on Sunday night and Monday morning. It is thougnt, however, that the crew remained alive for many hours after it was halted. The Navy located the craft at 9.30 a.m. on Monday. It has been established that an auxiliary engine of some kind was functioning aboard the vessel at that time. It was still m operation when, salvage operations ceased at five o’clock the same evening. As the submarine broke through the water to-day, the tip of one of its partly-released torpedoes glinted in the sun. The protective cap of the torpedo was caught in the mechanism which operates a saw for cutting through netting and other traps. The failure of the cap to drop clear is thought to have been responsible for the torpedo not being discharged. The condition of the mechanism associated with the firing of both torpedoes convinced naval officers that an attempt had been made to fire each. It is estimated that the torpedoes are about 18 feet long, with a diameter of 18 inches, and with up to 3501bs of high explosives packed inside them. Before ‘operations ceased to-night, one of five divers who have spent the most part of three days under the water, attached a heavy steel hawser to the stern of the vessel. To-mor-row, an attempt will be made to lift the stern and place the craft on an even keel. It will then be towed io a place where naval experts will be able to make a thorough examination. N.S.W. SUPPLIES. (Rec. 9.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 5. “There is no doubt that a bombing attack will be made on New South Wales, but where the blow will fall, and how severe it will be, no one has any idea.” said the Minister for Lacour and Industry (Mr. Hamilton Knight.), in a speech. “The Government has set up an organisation for the immediate provision of food, clothing, and shelter for the homeless. No matter what part of the State is attacked, we can rush food anywhere to meet any emergency. No' matter how or where it comes, wo can handle it.”