SUNK RECENTLY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 28, 28 October 1942, Page 5

SUNK RECENTLY

Aircraft-Carrier Wasp SUBMARINE BLOW (Received October 27, 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 26. A Navy Department communique states that the aircraft-carrier Wasp was sunk jn the South Pacific on October 15 as a result of a submarine attack. The Wasp floated for five hours. The announcement of the loss was delayed as long as a possibility remained that the enemy was not aware of the sinking. The Wasp was operating with a task force which was covering the movement of reinforcements and supplies into Guadalcanal when, at 2.50 p.m., three torpedoes struck in the vicinity of the magazines and gasoline tanks, resulting in many explosions and serious fires throughout the ship, fifteen minutes later a heavy explosion rocked the Wasp, and others followed in the vicinity of the hangar decks. The fires could not be controlled and the ship was abandoned three hours after the attack. A United States destroyer torpedoed the Wasp at 8 p.m. when all hope had been abandoned. Ninety per cent, of the personnel were rescued. The Wasp, n vessel of 14,700 tons, was completed in 1940 and cost about £5,000,000. She had a speed of 30 knots and carried about 77 planes. Her listed complement, including air personnel, was 1800. The Wasp played a gallant part in taking fighter plane reinforcements to beleaguered Malta some months ago, and Mr. Churchill paid a tribute to her in one of liia speeches. POWER OF ALLIED RAIDS Evidence In New Guinea (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 27, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 27. More extensive though ineffective Japanese air activity in the south-west Pacific area than for several weeks is reported in the • latest communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters. Enemy aircraft were over Darwin, Port Moresby and Milne Bay on Sunday night, but only minor damage was done. Little significance is attached to this increased air activity. It is probable that the Japanese have merely taken advantage of the raiders’ moon to maintain face while the crucial struggle is developing in the Solomons, Allied planes made four raids against the enemy's three. Targets at Koepang, Lae, Salamaua, and Kokoda ■were attacked. The same formation of American B2s’s bombed Lae and Salamaua. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered in both places, but there was no interception. Havocs and Kittyhawks strafed the trail from Kokoda up the Owen Stanleys. No change has occurred in the ground situation in the mountains. The lighting has been described as desultory. The Japanese are still clinging tenaciously to prepared positions near Alola village, only one and a half air miles from Kokoda. They are fending Allied thrusts with artillery and mortar fire. Our advancing troops in the Owen Stanleys have found bullet-riddled and burnt.-ont huts in every village pre.viously occupied by the Japanese. The discovery of dead enemy soldiers in the jungle is additional evidence of the effectiveness of the Allied air attacks. A .Japanese soldier gave himself np to a native woman and a ten-year-old boy at Milne Bay on Friday. lie was one of a party of 20 which escaped into the bush after the Milne Bay invasion was smashed last month.