AUSTRALIAN PARTY

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22691, 20 August 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN PARTY

DARING ACHIEVEMENT ENEMY SHIPS BLOWN UP (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Aug. 19 Paddling native canoes into Singaport Harbour one dark night a party of 16 Australians, led by a Scottish army officer, made a commando raid and sank six Japanese ships and escaped unscathed. This most daring raid on the strongest base Seized by Japan was made in September, 1943, when Japan was at the zenith of her achievement in the Pacific. It was organised in Australia when invasion by the Japanese seemed imminent. The raid was suggested in August, 1943, by a 28-year-old Highland officer who had escaped from Malaya. The Australian Army backed the project and 15 men of many who volunteered for “a hazardous enterprise” were selected. An officer of the staff of Lieutenant-General Gordon Bennett also volunteered to join. Paddling Native Canoes The 17 men became the crew of a small sailing boat of the type used by Malays in the Java Sea. They sailed from Fremantle. After some weeks at sea the boat reached Rhio Archipelago, south of Singapore. Here it was hidden among the mangroves. The crew secured several native canoes. Travelling always at night they paddled from island to island and finally entered Singapore Harbour, progressing unobserved among a fleet of native fishing craft. Riding at anchor in the harbour were a number of Japanese merchant ships and so confident were the Japanese that few sentries were posted. The canoes were allowed to drift slowly against the side of the ships which were selected as targets. “Limpet” Time-Bombs Silently the raiders dropped over the sides of the canoes. In their arms were “limpet” bombs with time-fuses attached. These they fixed to the hulls of the ships five feet below the waterline. The raiders then paddled their canoes to the island where at daybreak they heard in quick succession six loud explosions and saw six ships sink at their moorings. The commandos, after a series of night crossings from island to island, regained their sailing craft and eventually returned to Australia.