SANG UNDER FIRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20858, 10 August 1942, Page 3

SANG UNDER FIRE

PASSENGERS ON SHIP SHELLED BY SUBMARINE VESSEL UNSCATHED (Special Australian Correspondent.) (9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 10. Passengers on a steamer which was attacked at night during the past week by a submarine off the south coast of Australia sang patriotic songs during the shelling. The -.submarine chased the ship for three and a half hours, but scored no hits, the ship docking without casualties or damage. News of the attack has been released by General MacArthur’s Headquarters. More than six shells were fired by the submarine from a fairly close range. One fell about 30 yards astern of the ship. The passengers were calm throughout the shelling. Wearing lifebelts they went to emergency stations where they waited until the attack ended. A gunner on the steamer fired one shell at the submarine. It is not believed that the submarine was hit, but it broke off the attack. This is the second submarine shelling of a ship off the Australian coast' announced within a week.

Last Tuesday it was revealed that a British trawler of 200 tons had been shelled at point-blank range, 17 miles off the east, coast. The trawler reached an Australian port but two of her crew of 12 were killed and four wounded. One wounded man died in hospital.