CANADIAN LINER

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1942, Page 5

CANADIAN LINER

Sunk Near Sumatra OTTAWA, May 19. The C.P.R. announce the Admiralty has granted permission for publication t.nat the Empress .of Asia was sunk by Japanese dive-bombers on February 5, near Sumatra, whilst transporting troops to Singapore. Most of the 2500 Imperial troops were saved. The Japanese dropped 80 bombs and scored five direct hits. Soon the whole ship was aflame. About 100 seamen escaped, but 44 are known to have been lost. Escape by lifeboat was impossible for they too, were burnt. The little Australian sloop, Yarra, was the heroine of the rescue. Coming alongside the blazing liner, she took the Empress of Asia’s troops off, at thei same time firing constantly at the enemy bombers.

Engineer’s Story BRAVERY SHOWN BY SLOOP “YARRA*.” (Rec. 11.45.) SYDNEY, May 20. Members of the crew of the Empress of Asia who came to Australia tell the full storv of the sinking, and how the sloop “Yarra” in the face of grave danger, rescued a large proportion of the liner’s troops. . / Mr. W. H. McArthur, one of the I engineers of the Empress said: “On the morning of February 2, the Em-