OFF AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 99, 21 January 1943, Page 5

OFF AUSTRALIA

Submarine Sinks Small Ship (Received January 20,11.-10 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 20. A Japanese submarine has sunk a small Allied vessel in Australian waters. Only two casualties were caused by a torpedo attack, and all other members of the crew were rescued. General MacArthur's communique, announcing the .sinking, does not state the date or the location of the attack. It is learned that a large ocean-going Japanese submarine, estimated to be about 300 feel long, made Ihe attack recently at .1 o’clock in the mornWlien seen about 300 yards away in moonlight, the submarine ap| am red to be camouflaged. It stayed above waler for only a few minutes mid then submerged. A torpedo struck the ship on the port, side, smashing "lie lifeboat to pieces. Thirty members of the crew, together with two passengers, got. into a stnrboiird lifeboat, mid they sailed mid rowed lor 30 hours before reaching safely. The ship sank within an hour of being hit. Journey to Port.

The men rowed in relays-, mid about four miles off port, were assisted by a fishing smack. “We were hit without warning,” stilted the captain on his arrival. “I went immediately to the bridge, and saw the submarine about 300 yards from the ship on the port side. We were listing badly mid had some dillieult,v in launching the lifeboat, but we managed Io gel away without neeidi’iit. At dawn we were live miles off, mid there was no sign of our ship.” A former navy man who was testing fishing grounds saw the survivors mid lowed them to port. “1 fudun l nun if they waffled wilier." he said. "The answer (•nine back. 'No thanks. We will ':><■ ashore soon and have a beer.