CRUISER CHICAGO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1943, Page 4

CRUISER CHICAGO

TARGET FOR ENEMY MIDGET SUBMARINES IN RAID ON SYDNEY HARBOUR. TORPEDO PASSES UNDER KEEL. (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The American cruiser Chicago, sunk by Japanese torpedo-bombers at the Solomons on January 30, was a target 1 for the Japanese midget submarines which made a dramatic raid on Sydney Harbour on the night, of May 31 last. Of the torpedoes which were then fired at the Chicago one passed immediately under her keel and blew up the ferry steamer Kuttabul, which was being used as naval a depot ship. The i facts of this incident are now disclosed for the first time. The midget submarine which attacked the Chicago approached submerged and unseen and discharged its first torpedo from a distance variousi ly estimated at from 50 to 200 yards. ; Fortunately it missed the warship but sank the Kuttabul, with the loss of 21 ; lives —all naval ratings, who were asleep aboard. The commander of the Chicago was ’ dining ashore when the first warning . was received that enemy submarines were in the harbour. He hastened to his ship and gave orders to put to sea. ' So hurriedly did the Chicago get under way that a rating, who was assisting to release the warship’s anchor was left behind, clinging to a mooring buoy in mid-harbour. As soon as the first torpedo was fired the Chicago’s guns went into action but it is not known -whether they took effect. The cruiser steamed down the harbour and out of the heads with- her guns still blazing. An official Japanese communique a ’ few days later claimed that an American cruiser and two merchantmen had been sunk in the harbour. “Sydney,” boasted the communique, “was the target of a bewildering assault which must surely awaken Australians to the utter weakness of Australian defence under socalled American protection.” Despite these claims, the only vessel hit was a ferry steamer. Three, possibly four midget submarines were destroyed. When the Chicago was finally sunk in the Solomons the Japanese planes concentrated on her, apparently mistaking her for a battleship because of her construction, according to lieutenant Edward Jarman, an air defence officer on the warship. The Chicago was sunk by four torpedoes and fired a five-inch gun salute to her-( self as she went down with her colours flying. The midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour has also been recalled by the visit of an enemy plane over Sydney on Friday night. Mr Hughes, j a member of the Australian War . Council, said he believed the plane j was over to seek out shipping for attack by submarine and not to spy out ■ the land. Only a week ago an authori- £ tative .warning was issued here that j an intensification of Japanese sub- - marine warfare in Australian waters t could be expected. c . ■-. t