SLIGHT REDUCTIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1943, Page 3

SLIGHT REDUCTIONS

IN CENTAUR DEATH-ROLL

EVIDENCE OF DELIBERATE ATTACK.

QUESTION OF ESCORT RAISED.

(Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 19

The loss of life when the Australian hospital ship Centaur was sunk by a Japanese submarine near Brisbane on Friday was not quite so heavy as originally announced. The complement of the vessel was 332, not 363, which was the first official figure. This reduces the number of personnel lost' from 299 to 268. Making this correction, General MacArthur’s communique today says that the new figures were reached after a further check by Australian army and navy authorities . Messages from London and New York declare that Britain and the United States have been horrified by the foul act of barbarism perpetrated by the Japanese Navy, which has further emphasised the devilish calibre of the enemy. It has been inferred in some quarters from a Japanese radio announcement that the submarine was deputed specially to sink the Centaur. An enemy spokesman, attempting to justify the action, said: “Our enemy America has repeatedly revealed a tendency to barbarism in the Pacific war.”

The Sydney “Sun” editorially today raises the point whether Allied hospital ships in the Pacific can in future be permitted to go unescorted. “We have trusted once,” says the paper, “and it has cost us nearly 300 valuable lives. It would be folly to trust again.” Some of the survivors have been moved to their homes, but most of them are still in hospital. Sister Nellie (not Eleanor as originally reported) Savage, the only surviving nurse, is stated to be in a satisfactory condition. ESPIONAGE MANIFEST.

The Australian Minister of the Navy, Mr Makin, declared today that a well-organised spy ring was operating within Australia. He pointed to the recent sinking of ships off the coast as conclusive evidence of spies’ operations. “The course of recent events, which have been costly to the shipping of this • country, has given rise to grave feelings about acts of espionage which are manifest,” said the Minister.

“It is more than a coincidence that classes of shipping of particular importance have been attacked by submarines. I urge the public to be careful in conversation and not to discuss ship movements at all.” ■