Pelope Shoal is Still
p. 58 · Read in the full issue
There
From Our Own Correspondent
Honiara, Dec. 31.
ATTEMPTS were made on De cember 10 and 12 to demolish Pelope Shoal, which is an obstruction to shipping at Point Cruz, Honiara, by exploding salvaged under-water demolition bombs.
The operation was carried out by 2 Aust. Bomb Disposal Section personnel and despite careful plan ning and preparation, the attempts were not successful.
On December 10 the three large bombs which had been placed in position failed to explode. Ropes were placed round them and they were hauled to the surface after the primers had gone off without detonating the bombs. It was found that owing to exposure to weather during the post-war years the bombs were useless.
At the second attempt, another set of bombs duly exploded, but could not shift the coral rock of the shoal. Great credit is due to the Bomb Disposal Section for their conscientious hard work on a dif ficult and dangerous task.
The bombs used were salvaged in the Western Solomons..
Australia’s national debt on June 30. 1953 totalled £3,431,862,459, or £389 per head of population. Of this, £3,019,046,845 is held in Australia, £352,873,093 in London and £59,942,519 in New York. The total debt in terest bill for 1953 was £100,383,455.
Included in the above are State debts totalling £1,543,647,463.