MENACE TO INDIA

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21688, 26 March 1942, Page 5

MENACE TO INDIA

LARGE JAPANESE FLEET (United Press Assn.—Elec Tel. Copyrlg-tiu LONDON, March 24 The Paris radio reports the presence of a large formation of Japanese naval vessels in the Bay of Bengal last night. JAPANESE BRUTALITY BOMBING OF SEAMEN (Olllcial Wireless) RUGBY, March 24 A report has been received in London on the circumstances in which the British steamship Kwantung, of 2626 tons, was sunk south of Java. There were only 12 known survivors out of a total complement of 98. The Kwantung was torpedoed, without warning, in the early morning and the crew took to four boats. A Japanese U-boat came to the surface and made for the master’s boat. Tne U-boat’s machine-guns were trained on the lifeboat, which was deliberately rammed amidships. The survivors were left floating on pieces of th shattered lifeboat. The chief officer of the Kwantung, who was in charge of another boat and had seen the attack on the master’s lifeboat, at once put about and sailed towards him. While he was picking up twelve survivors from 25 original occupants of this boat the Japanese U-boat re-appeared and the second lifeboat was destroyed by the Japanese U-boat in the same way. No other lifeboats being in sight the U-boat then submerged and was not seen again. After the second attack only 13 men were left alive and all were more or less injured. It was then about 8 a.m. and they floated all that day and the following night on two portions of the last lifeboat, which continually capsized. One of the survivors died during the afternoon on that day. About noon on the second day a steamer fortunately sighted the survivors and picked them up.

by special arrangement neuter’s World Service, in addition to other special sources or information, Is used In the compilation or the overseas Intelligence publlsned in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved, such or the cable news in this Issue as is so headed has appeared In the Times and is so sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that tne opinion Is not that of the Times unless expressly stated to he so.