PACIFIC ISLANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24790, 15 December 1941, Page 5

PACIFIC ISLANDS

, NO WORD FROM GUAM PROBABLY IN JAPANESE HANDS (Rec. 11 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 13. The United States Navy Department announced that it was unable to communicate with Guam by cable or radio. ‘ The capture of the island, ’ states a communique, “is probable. A small force of fewer than 400 naval personnsl and 155 marines was stationed there. According to the last reports from Guam Island, it had been bombed repeatedly, and Japanese troops bad landed at several pdnts. Wake and Midway Islands continue to resist. THE GILBERT GROUP JAPANESE LANDING REPORTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, stated to-day that the Japanese had landed at Ta Rawa and Makm Islands, in the Gilbert group, on December 10. Large fires were seen at Ta Rawa, and a number of buildings, launches, etc., were destroyed. One native is reported killed, but so far as is known all Europeans are safe. Ocean Island was bombed on December 7 and 10. An interisland schooner was destroyed at Ta Rawa, but there were no casualties so far as is known. WAKE ISLAND HOLDS OUT fßec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 12. President Roosevelt, at a press conference, said that the Wake Island garrison was still holding out and the marines there were doing a magnificent job The Navy Department notified the American Federation of Labour that more than 1000 members of its building trades unions were taken prisoner when Midway and Guam were captured by the Japanese. The Speaker, Mr Sam Rayburn, announced that legislation would be introduced immediately calling for registration for service of all men from 18 to 65.