BLOW TO JAPAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20804, 6 June 1942, Page 5

BLOW TO JAPAN

SINKING OF SHIPS SUPPLIES AND TROOPS ATMOSPHERE OF TENSION (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (3 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 5. Many Japanese troops are believed to have been drowned when an Allied submarine sank the GOOO-ton armed enemy transport mentioned in yesterday’s communique. The Sydney Morning Herald’s Melbourne correspondent says that 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 that the ships were attacked in an island zone close to the limits to which Japanese communications have spread. The loss of supplies at that point would be severe to the enemy, but, even more important from the Allies’ point of view, is .the sinking of the armed transport. 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 Daily Telegraph's Melbourne correspondent says .that the communique contained the first official mention of major 'enemy troop and supply movements since the closing stages of the Coral Sea Battle early in May. The announcement of the sinkings gives' added significance to the almos, non-stop series of conferences in v«! last few days between the High Command and the air and naval commands. The same atmosphere of tension and activity exists as in the few days before the Coral Sea Battle.