JAPAN'S LOSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23512, 24 November 1939, Page 7

JAPAN'S LOSS

TOKIO PEESS CLAMOUR LINER CAPTAIN'S STORY EXPLOSION LIFTED SHIP By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 23, 6.35 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 23 The sinking by a German mine on Tuesday, off the English coast, of the Japanese liner Terukuni Maru, of which Japan was very proud, has shocked the Japanese, and the Tokio newspapers, in a chorus of protest, are urging their Government to demand that belligerents shall respect Japan's rights as a neutral. Further evidence that the recent losses of British and neutral merchant ships off coast of England was due to German mines purposely laid in order to inflict loss on neutrals is provided by the testimony of the captain of the Terukuni Maru, says a British official wireless message. He states that it was broad daylight and visibility was good. He had five lookouts posted. The explosion occurred underneath the ship, lifting her and throwing men off their feet. This fact, to which the Japanese master attests, would dispose summarily of the suggestion —which Nazi propaganda would doubtless repeat—that the sinking was due to a drifting British mine, even if it were not already established that British mines are carefully designed and constructed to become harmless on breaking away from their moorings. The Terukuni Maru had visited a British contraband control station, from which she had been cleared after only five hours' delay. She had a British pilot on board, of whose conduct the Japanese captain expressed himself in the warmest terms, stating that the pilot remained on the bridge with him and had been reluctant to leave even when ordered to do so by the captain. That there was no loss of life was due to a combination of circumstances —daylight, calm weather and the fact that the captain gave the order to lower tho boats. Moreover, there were iu the vicinity several British auxiliary craft, and these played a big part in the rescue of the passengers and crew.

COURT OF INQUIRY SINKING AT SINGAPORE MASTER GUILTY OF DEFAULT LONDON, Nov. 23 The Court of Inquiry into the sinking of the British India Steam Navigation Campany's passenger liner Sirdhana through striking a British defensive mine in Singapore Harbour on November 13 found the master guilty of wrongful default in not acquainting himself with the position of the minefield. His master's certificate has been suspended for a year, but he will be permitted to act as mate during the period of suspension. The second officer has been censured. The finding was that- after the explosion all possible steps were taken to save life and the conduct of all was admirable. It was recommended that the officer in charge of the port battery be allowed to use his discretion in firing a warning shot when a vessel was seen to be approaching the danger area. An earlier ship to sink after striking a mine at the entrance to Singapore Harbour was the Norwegian vessel Heogh Transporter, which was lost on October 3 after ignoring naval warnings.

SECRET SESSION BRITISH PARLIAMENT LABOUR PARTY REQUEST British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 22 The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. 11. Attlee, in tho House of Commons, said: "1 think the time has come when I should give notice that in the new session we shall ask for a secret session of the House at an early opportunity, in order to discuss the improving of our organisation and output of supplies, and that this House may make its proper contribution to that subject. "There are criticisms," said Mr. Attlee, "and there may be apprehensions. They ought to be dispersed, and this House has its responsibility Avhich cannot leave entirely to Ministers. We want to be sure we are doing our utmost for the more energetic prosecution of tho war. We want to be suro everything possible is being done." Sir Percy Harris (Liberal —Bethnel Green) said he also attached importance to the holding of a secret session, not so much in order that the Government might give information, but that members might have tho opportunity to speak their minds and furnish information which they had heard in the course of their work. •

BULGARIA'S AIMS CONSOLIDATION OF PEACE SOFIA, Nov. '22 The Prime Minister of Bulgaria, M. KiosseivanolT, in a newspaper interview, said: "Wo certainly have territorial .claims, but I do not believe that n few kilometres of soil are worth blood*shed. Consequently we seek settlement of our problems by means of friendly agreements with our neighbours. We aim at consolidation of peace. I have made our policy clear in Angora, and Turkey and Greece are convinced."