TOLL OF JAPANESE SHIPS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22469, 2 January 1943, Page 5

TOLL OF JAPANESE SHIPS

Victims Of Submarines

NEW YORK. December 30. A message from New London (Connecticut) says that the crew of a weather-beaten American submarine told an adventurous story of how thev sank eight Japanese ships, including a destroyer, two transports and four freighters. 04, which some were so close to Japan that the crews “could almost spi. on the coast." Relating the toll an officer commented: “Even n they get us before the war ends we are so far ahead of the Japanese that they will never catch up.

On one occasion the submarine reconnoitred Japanese preparations for a raid. The crew, itching for action, saw many ships in the lagoon, but tne skipper did not attack. He waited five davs until a big transport came out. which he immediately torpedoed ana sank, "whereupon considerable antisubmarine activity set in.” Questioned about what a depth charge felt like the skipper replied:

“It was very loud, but the crew were not hysteric and continued to smoke, drink, laugh and joke—though in a strained sort of way.” Another submarine arrived at a naval base in the Pacific after sinking 11 Japanese ships totalling 69.000 tons. The crew reports that one big transport carrying 400 soldiers and 2qU passengers almost escaped. They had to chase her for three hours and fired over 100 shells before the ship sunk. The skipper gave position bearings to the survivors, “all of whom ‘played possum’ when the submarine emerged.” The biggest catch (rasas unusually large freighter which was sunk at night bV torpedoes.