JAPANESE NAME

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

JAPANESE NAME

DISGUISE OF BALDER

FACTS OF BOMBARDMENT TOKIO GOVERNMENT INFORMED [FROM OCR owx correspondent] By Tasman Air Mail SYDXEY, Dec. 29 Mr. Hughes disclosed yesterday that the name used by the Nauru raider was either "Nanyo or Manyo Maru." Referring to a cablegram from Tokio saying that Japan would take a grave view of the matter if it could be substantiated that the raider was sailing under Japanese disguise, Mr. Hughes said these facts were authentic.

In Lloyd's Register appear both the Xanyo Maru, of 3610 tons, and the Manyo Maru, of 290-1 tons. The Prime Minister, Mr. 1?. G. Menzies, said in Melbourne yesterday that the public could rest assured that the Navy was doing everything possible to destroy the enemy ship. He had communicated the fnct.s of the shelling to the Japanese Government.

Mr. Menzies said on Friday: "With a population of just over 3000, of whom 194 are Europeans, Nauru is administered jointly by Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, under a 'C class mandate of the League of Nations. Under that mandate, no naval or military base can be established at the island, nor can any fortifications be erected there. No military training of the natives is permitted, although they can be trained as police for defence purposes. "The defence of Nauru is, therefore, limited to the effort to repel any actual attempt to make an enemy landing on its shores. That the enemy made, no attempt to do; but, standing some distance off, shelled a defenceless place and people. "In this latest manifestation of German methods of waging war, the peoples of the world have yet another example of German duplicity and lack of regard for any of the common decencies which exist among civilised nations. Among such nations, this act will only deepen, if possible, the disgust with which Nazi Germany is regarded, and the contempt in which she is held."

TOKIO STATEMENT FLAG ASPECT UNCONFIRMED (Beeeireri December 29, r>..T.*> p.m.) TOKIO, Dec. '2B The spokesman of the Japanese Navy Office said he had no information to confirm the claim that the Nauru raider flew the Japanese flag and used a Japanese name. Navy and other official sources said it would be regarded as a serious matter if the report that the raider was flying Japanese colours was substantiated.

The vernacular newspapers treat the story of the shelling in a lukewarm manner. They carry brief despatches from .Melbourne, hut do not comment on the Japanese flag aspect.

NATURE OF ISLAND

SURROUNDED BY REEF Nauru Island lies about 26 miles south of the equator. Oval-shaped and about 12 miles in circumference, it has an area of .~2f).'i acres. It is surrounded bv a coral reef which is exposed at low tide; but the reef .slopes rapidly away. fertile belt from 200 to 800 yards wide encircles the island. Above it, there is an extensive plateau which contains the phosphate deposits. Phosphate constitutes the island's export trade. Kxcept for the fertile belt between the hench and the coral cliff, the island is practically uninhabited. The holt round the coast includes nil the Kuropean residences, the Government station, the British Phosphate Commission's settlement, quarters for the Chinese indentured labourers, and the greater part of the plant, drying rnits, storage bins, and other works of the commission. Although it vns discovered in 1798 by a British officer. Captain John Fearn, Nauru was claimed and occupied by Germany in 1888. It was occupied by an Australian expeditionary force on November 0, 191 1. Germanv renounced her rights to Nauru under the Treaty of Versailles, in favour of the British Mandate. The mandate was shared by Great Britain. Australia and New Zealand. The Administrator is appointed by Australia.