JAP. SUBMARINES

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1942, Page 5

JAP. SUBMARINES

IN TASMAN SEA Attack Three Ships [Aust. & N.Z. Cable A;sn? (Rec. 8.35.) SYDNEY, June 4. An official communique has been issued here, which states: — Enemy submarines attacked cargo vessels in Tasman Sea. Two were attacked thirty-five miles east of Sydney. Another

vessel was attacked twenty-five miles south of Sydney. (Rec. 1.10.) CANBERRA, June' 4. A military communique states: In the eastern • sector, enemy submarines attacked two small cargo vessels. 35 miles east of Sydney. and another ship 225 miles south of there. Further information of the submarine attack off the east, coast of Australia indicates that one of the three vessels was. sunk, the other two escaping undamaged. One Vessel Sunk BY LARGE JAP SUBMARINE. OFF COAST OF N.S. WALES. (Rec. 11.50) 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 ait an .Australian port. Describing the action of the subroiarine, which they stated to be a large one, they saw it open heavy fire. 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 foui' minutes. Of the crew of twelve, three were lost, including the captain and wireless ope'raitor, who kept at his post sending signals, which brought :a naval vessel to the scene. Official Reticence PURSUIT OF SUBMARINES. JAPAN’S LARGE FLEET. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 12.30.) SYDNEY. June 4. Th" enemy submarines have attacked two small cargo vessels, thirty-live miles east of Sydney, and also a third ship, twenty-five m'les south of Sydney. One of the vessels was sunk. The other two escaped undamaged. The Allied Headquarters, m a communique announcing these attacks, give no further details. It does not indicate which vessel was sunk, or if casualties were caused. No reference 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-laying vessels. The Japanese ocean-going suomarines of the “Kaigun” type have been reported to have an amazing range, up to sixteen thousand miles. Twenty-live of this type are believed to have been built. The range of the “Kawasaki” type of Japanese submarines, each displacing up to twenty-five hundreds of 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. Allied Submarines SINK JAP. VESSELS. (Rec. 11.50.)' CANBERRA. June 4. Mr Curtin, Prime Minister, to-day stated that four, not three, midget Japanese submarines were sunk in Sydney harbour. He said that Allied submarines were active against the two heavily armed enemy vessels, which have been attacked and sunk by the submarines. Three Ships Sunk BY ALLIED SUBMARINES. PROBABLE LOSS OF TROOPS. (Rec. 1.10.) CANBERRA, June 4. In a raid on enemy shipping lanes one of our submarines successfully sank two heavily loaded armed supply ships o' 6,000 and 10,000 tons and badlv damaged a third of 7,000 tons, and sank an armed transport of 6,000 tons with the probable loss of all troops.