Attacked by Japs
pp. 41-42 · Read in the full issue
Launch's Escape
SOON after the Japanese launched their attack, in December, it was reported in Western Samoa, that distress signals had been received from what was believed to be an Allied aero plane, far out at sea. A large launch, manned by ten men, put out to sea, to give any help that was needed. The crew included Dr. P. R. Skinner, and the following is taken from a letter written by him and published in New Zealand.
When the launch was 100 miles out to sea it was suddenly attacked by a Japanese bomber aeroplane.
There was a savage onslaught of machine-gun fire, to escape which all of the occupants of the launch dived into the sea. The attack ceased, presum ably on the Japanese assumption that the crew had been wiped out, but mira culously not a man had been injured.
The launch was burning, the hull being badly holed and the engine damaged.
After a desperate struggle the fire was extinguished and order was restored sufficiently to enable the launch to make a perilous return voyage in two days.
Mr Warren Clemens, who has been a cadet in the BSIP Service since 1938 was recently appointed to be acting District Officer of Guadalcanal, according to a notice in the Western Pacific High Com mission Gazette.
Dr. Robert Snodgrass, Chief Medical Officer at the Suva Colonial War Mem orial Hospital, Fiji, has been in New Zealand on short furlough recently.