POINT-BLANK RANGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23851, 30 December 1940, Page 9

POINT-BLANK RANGE

RAIDER'S DAWN SIGNAL DRAMATIC ORDER FLASHED "DO NOT USE YOUR WIRELESS" (By Tasrn.in .Air Msil) ["FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] SYDNEY, Dec. 29 "Do not use your wireless or I shall shoot the mast down. I am going to shoot the phosphate loading jetties, in order to save destruction of human life and property. In the semi-darkness just before dawn on Friday the German raider which shelled Nauru flashed this message to the Nauru wireless station, and then, having satisfied itself that no warships were in sight, it hoisted 'the German flag in place of the Japanese flag, which it had been flying, and opened fire at point-blank range. The graphic story of the island's bombardment was told when contact was re-established yesterday with the Nauru wireless station. Oil fuel tanks were still ablaze, but the power station was intact, and it was stated definitely that nobody was injured in the attack. The belief has been expressed that damage to the extent of nearly £1.000,000 has been done to the Phosphate Commission's plant and buildings. 1 he general manager of the Phosphate Commission, Mr. A. H. Gaze, said the damage would probably be irreparable. The buildings and plant were valued at £2,000,000. He believed the raider's purpose was to destroy the huge cantilever loader, the power house, the administrative buildings, the wireless station and any ships loading at the island. It was not yet known how far the enemy had succeeded in his purpose. The Australian Minister for the Navy, Mr. W. M. Hughes, said yesterday that, an Australian warship was on the raider's trail.