German Raiders Fitting In Japan; British Inquiries

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1941, Page 5

German Raiders Fitting In Japan; British Inquiries

LONDON, January 2. A despatch from Tokio says the Japanese navy spokesman stated:

“Under no circumstances has Japan sanctioned the use by German raiders of the names of Japanese vessels,, or Japanese flags.” He said he had no information of reports that raiders were sailing in the vicinity of Japanese-controlled islands.

Writing in the *News Chronicle,” Mr Vernon Bartlett . states that the British Ambassador to Tokio , (Sir Robert Craigie) has been instructed to inquire concerning reports that German ships are fitting out as sea raiders in Japanese ports.

Mr Bartlett adds that the sinking of the Turakina and the shelling of Nauru adds urgently to the inquiries.

On being landed from the enemy raider at Emirau, the survivors from the captured ships were warned not to attempt to communicate wih the nearest settlement on another island, for 24 hours, said the BBC today. The master of the Turakina (Captain J. Laird) took a vow before leaving Australia that if his ship were attacked by a raider, he would fight to the finish. He'kept his word and the Turakina fought .for 2£ hours before going down with her colours flying.