Late News SUBMARINES SEEN AT ONCE

Southland Times, Issue 24760, 3 June 1942, Page 5

Late News SUBMARINES SEEN AT ONCE

(Rec. 2.20 a.m.) CANBERRA, June 2. The three Japanese midget submarines which attempted to raid Sydney harbour on Sunday night were instantly detected, the Minister of the Navy, Mr N. J. O. Makin, revealed today in the House of Representatives. The first alarm was given by a patrol vessel at Sydney Heads shortly before 10 o’clock, said the Minister. One submarine which had been attempting to penetrate the outer harbour defences had been destroyed before 10.30 without managing to get inside. “It would appear that three enemy submarines participated in the attack and that they were all destroyed,” he said amid cheers. “The submarine sunk outside the harbour has been located on the sea floor by divers.” Once the alarm had been given, Mr Makin said, patrol vessels and warships in the harbour were on the alert and the two enemy submarines which succeeded in entering were quickly dealt with by gunfire and depth charges. One of these submarines was subsequently recovered and a full examination would be made of the craft. The third submarine had undoubtedly been destroyed and a search for the wreckage was being continued. The Minister said that long before Japan entered the war steps had been taken to safeguard the defences of Sydney harbour. These defences were “particularly effective and ably administered.”

Asked whether it was possible that the. midget submarines had been deposited less than 100 miles from Sydney by a mother ship, Mr Makin replied that the Navy was seeking to determine the means by which the submarines had been brought to these waters. It was possible that a parent ship was responsible. Every effort was being made to detect any such vessel. Asked why the first news of the sinkings came from the United States and the second from the British Broadcast-' ing Corporation, Mr Makin said it had been thought undesirable to let the enemy know immediately that the plan had been detected. If there were any enemy ships nearby “we wanted to get them.”

Six naval men were killed, 13 are missing, believed killed, and 10 were injured in the attack by the Japanese submarines. This has been officially announced by the Royal Australian Navy. It is stated that the casualties

were all suffered in the ferry steamer, which was being used as a naval depot ship. The vessel was the sole loss suffered in the attack. One Royal Navy man was killed and a Netherlands naval radio operator was injured. The other men listed are all members of the Royal Australian Navy. COSTLY JAPANESE RAID SYDNEY, June 2. The bombing raid on Port Moresby on Monday was the first for about 10 days. It was a costly failure for the Japanese, seven bombers and two fighters being shot down or damaged. Meanwhile, Allied night attacks on Japanese bases are continuing. Today’s communique says that at Rabaul our Air Force executed a night bombing and strafing attack on the dock area. Just before dawn our Air Force attacked the building area in Lae and a runway at Salamaua. The results were not observed at Lae. Direct hits were scored on the Salamaua runway and there was a large explosion. Nearly all our planes returned from these operations. At Port Moresby 18 heavy bombers escorted by 12 Zeros attacked the dock area at noon yesterday. Slight damage was done to workshops and houses. Our fighters shot down or damaged seven bombers and two fighters. Two of our fighters were shot down in combat. ROMMEL HALTS RETREAT LONDON, June 2. Field-Marshal Rommel suddenly halted his retreat through the gaps, possibly because of unceasing British artil-

lery and air attacks. His intentions are now obscure. The special correspondent of The Times says there is a regrouping for a desperate counterattack.