ISLAND RAIDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24275, 16 May 1942, Page 7

ISLAND RAIDS

ENEMY AIR LOSSES ALLIED - SUCCESS COMBATS OVER BABATJL (Rcccl. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 15 Allied bombers have made another successful raid on Rabaul, in New Britain, states a communique from General Mac Arthur's headquarters to-day. The raiders were intercepted by 17 Japanese fighters, seven of which were shot down. No Allied machines were lost. Shipping in the harbour was attacked and one enemy transport was damaged.

De Bovne Island, in the Louisiade Archipelago, has also been attacked again by Allied aircraft. Fires were started on the ground and an enemy seaplane was sunk. Twenty-six enemy bombers escorted by nine fighters attacked Port Moresby, in New Guinea, yesterday, but no damage was caused. Two enemy fighters were shot down. The Vichy radio reports that the Japanese are massing large naval and transport units north-east of Australia. EMERGENCY CONTROL LONDON, May 15 Regulations have been introduced in Australia providing for an emergency control over the Northern Territory and certain districts in Queensland. LARGE MERCHANT SHIP LOSS TO JAPANESE NEW YORK. May 14 The Tokio official radio states that the War and Navy Ministers admitted today that a large Japanese merchantman. while under naval escort on May 8, was torpedoed and sunk in the eastern part of the South China Sea by an enemy submarine, but the submarine is believed to have been sunk The official announcement said that the sunken Japanese vessel carried as passengers persons engaged in economic activities in the southern regions. When the torpedo hit the ship it instantly became ablaze. Up to the present 541 survivors have been rescued. TOSSED INTO SEA GOLD AT SINGAPORE NEW YORK, May 14 A Tokio official radio despatch from Singapore described sensational salvage operations of 1,000,000 dollars in gold currency, which was tossed into tho sea by British authorities before the fall of Singapore. Thousands of onlookers have gathered near the General Post Office to watch the diving operations. Tens of thousands of dollars daily are being brought to the surface, giving the spectators great thrills TELEPHONE TAPPED ADMIRALTY TO NAVAL BASE LONDON, May 15 A secret wire tapping the telephone line between the Chilean Admiralty and the naval station at Valparaiso has heen discovered by the Chilean police. The wire led to a house used by Germans. Bv this means information about shipping movements had been obtained.