500 SURVIVORS

Grey River Argus, 2 January 1941, Page 5

500 SURVIVORS

FROM RAIDED SHIPS RESCUED FROM ISLAND North of New Guinea ONLY 23 “TURAKINA” SURVIVORS. [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, December 31. Making an important announcement on Tuesday, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser said: “I have pleasure in announcing that a ship from Australia has rescued five hundred persons who had been landed on Saturday. December 21, from an enemy commerce raider on the small island of Emirau in the Bismarck Group, north of New Guinea. “Information is still incomplete, but it is believed that survivors from the “Turakina.” the “Notou”, and “Ringwood,” and possibly certain Service personnel from other vessels, are still on board the raider, and no news of the landing of these people has yet been received. “It is reported, though confirmation is still awaited, that there are only twenty-three survivors from the “Turakina,” which is stated to have fought the raider for two and a-half hours. “The rescued people are of British, French and Norwegian nationality, and they include seventy women and seven children. The rescued people are from the passengers and crews of the following ships:—The “Komata,” the “Rangitane,” the “Holmwood.” the “Triona,” the “Vinni,” the “Triastar” and the “Triadic.” • !

“The next of kin of those belonging to New Zealand are being informed by telegram, as definite information comes to hand. | CASUALTIES. “I very mv/ch regret that there have been soiree casualties on these ships, and the are reported to have lost tlreir lives. “RANGITANE” PASSENGERS. MISS SCOTT. MISS BEESTON MRS 'DAVIES MISWHERBERT-JONES MR 'TOCKER. MR mXON. The (parents of Mr Dixon reside in Wellington. “Aft 1 of the above-named, were returning to the United Kingdom, after acting as escorts to British children ■who were sent to Australia.

I “RANGITANE” CREW

MR W. MOORE. Mr f. strickfuss Mr s. h. strickfuss. Miss SKINNER ’ “in addition Mrs Costella, a stewai'9bss, is missing, and she is believed be dead F- “KOMATA.” '*•. CHIEF OFFICER T. A. MACK, ofNew Zealand. SECOND OFFICER J'. L. HUGHES, of New Zealand. ’“TRIADIC.” One Philippine. “TRIONA.” Four Philippines. "I should like to express my sincere sympathy, which will, I am sure be shared by all in New with the relatives of these unfortunate people. “There is every reason to believe that this is a full list of the casualties on the “Rangitane,” the “jxomata,” the “Triadic,” and the “Triona”, and that there were no casualties on the “Holmwood,” the “Vinni” or the “Triastar,” but, as detailed information comes to hand, those of the next of kin who are in New’ Zealand will be informed as soon as possible by telegraph.”

MESSAGES TO SURVIVORS.

FROM PRIME MINISTER

WELLINGTON, January 1. Mr Fraser has sent through the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Sydney the following message to the New Zealanders rescued 'from tne island of Emirau: “The whole of New Zealand joins with me in welcoming your safe anTva’l and in congratulating you on your escape. We look forward to greeting you on your return to your own land, and trust that the arrangements w? are •endeavouring to make for your comfort will be adequate.” • ' ) Mr Fraser has a'so sent the following message to Reverend F ather Kelly: “I extend to you, and ail tne members of the Escort Party, warm good wishes on your safe arfivah All in New Zealand join with you 111 sorrow for those who have been lost." , , Mr Fraser has asked the trade Commissioner convey to a'l the other survivors good wishes and congratulations from the people Of New Zealand. THE NAURU RAIDER. CANBERRA, December 31. . Mr Hughes stated that the flymg o the Japanese flag on the : 5. a shelled Nauru, could not be a"? 1 but compromising and unpreceden , at a time when Japan was ,^ ” to strengthen relations with Australia. Reports received by the Naval Board from Nauru, made it impossible to doubt that the raider was sailing under the Japanese flag right up to the time of the attack “Our information places it quite beyond doubt, not only that the Japanese flag was flown, but also the ship had the name of a well-known Japanese vessel conspicuously painted on her, and was dressed in all- ways to resemble a Japanese ship. It was not until the raider. manoeuvred to bring her guns to bear on the island that the Japanese flag *was replaced by the Nazi flag. Simultaneously Nazi flags were dropped and displayed over the sides of the ship and from the mast, but while the ship was shelling the island, the Japanese ship name was not obscured I imagine in this case, the Germans

will have a great deal to explain to j'ap&n,” - 8000-ton Cruiser RAIDER IN SOUTH PACIFIC. KOBE, December 30. The Nazi sea-raider, active in the South Pacific, is believed to be an 8,000-ton cruiser, according to the crew of the Japanese liner “Kitano Maru,” on their return from Sydney. They state that when the liner arrived at Sydney, three British ships had been sunk in the Indian Ocean, and four others lost near Australia. The survivors believed that a warship, and not a converted cruiser, was responsible. It is recalled that four German 8,000-ton cruisers were laid down in 1937 LINER'S “5.0.5.” LONDON, January 1. The Berlin wireless reports an S.O.S. has been intercepted from the “City of Bedford”, which has been involved in a collision six hundred miles westward of Scotland. STOCKHOLM, December 31. The Oscar Midling has been sunk off the Norwegian coast. A huge ex,'plosion was seen from the shore. There is no news of the crew of 31 ana two Norwegian pilots. Week’s Shipping Losses UNDER-STATED BY ENEMY. (Received Jan. 1, 7 p.m.) RUGBY} December 31. One of the rare occasions when the Germans —probably /inadvertently—have claimed less destruction than has actually been . the case is seen in an official British statement of mercantile losses due to enemy action for the week ended December 23-24. During the week the losses were:— Fifteen British ships, totalling 32,849 tons. No Allied ships. Three neutral ships, totalling 10,451 tons. The aggregate was 43,390 tons. The Germans claimed only 38,910 tons were sunk during the week. CANAL ZO’NE INCIDENT. ‘ BRITISH FLAG OVER GERMAN CONSULATE. LONDON. January 1At Cristobal, in the Panama Canal zone, on Tuesday, residents going to work saw the British red ensign flying over the buildings, housing the Hamburg America Line and the German Consulate. The German staff members, on arriving for work, pulled down the ensign, and stamped on it. There was a British freight ship docked nearby.

Japanese Submarines REPORTED’ BASE OFF PANAMA CANAL. r Aus. & N.Z. Cable As.sn.l (Received January 1, 7.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 31. A message from Bogata, Columbia, dated December 30, says:. The Buenaventura correspondent of the newspaper, “El Liberal,” reports that the Columbian warship “Mojunin” has investigated rumours that there is a Japanese submarine base' at Malpelo Island, in the Pacific Ocean, 315 miles from Buenaventura. The authorities are silent ' U-BOATS IN SOUTH ATLANTIC. (Received January 1, 11.50 p.m.) NEW YORK December 31. The Mackay Radio picked up the s.f. “Algic,” reporting the presence of apparently four submarines, refuelling from a tanker, in the South Atlantic Ocean, eight hundred miles west of South-west Africa. pOUNTER TO U-BOATS. (Received January 1, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 31. A naval spokesman said that Britain hoped to have intensified counter measures to reduce the losses from the U-boats. The Navy was using the Mediterranean at will. Germany had failed “to make us feel she will succeed in stopping necessary supplies to Britain.” (Received January 1. 11.10 p.m.) OTTAWA, December 30. Contracts have been let for the construction of twenty new type antisubmarine vessels, known as Falrmile patrol boats, with high speed and double mahogany hulls. They are 112 feet long.