Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2586452
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IREPORT ON
DARWIN RAID RELEASED
No Evidence of
Espionage
MELBOURNE, 'Monday.
A- report on the first Japanese at- tack on,Darwin on February 19, re- leased by the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) to-day, revealed that the number of people killed on land, sea and in the air, did not exceed 240.
The report confirmed the informa- tion published earlier that the deaths in the town numbered only 15.
Mr. Curtin said -that the report was very comprehensive and dealt with many matters wblch could not be made-public. " "*" ' t * c .'-, ' ~
He said that the damage to Darwin itself was very small in the raid and there was no reason to suspect any espionage as the cause of attack.
Mr. Curtin said that the figure of 240 killed may be reduced when some more waterside workers communi- cated with the Railways Commis- sioner or shipping agents who-had employed them.
The Prime Minister explained that security reasons prevented an an- nouncement of the number killed or drowned in the harbour and on the, wharves as the information, together with shipping losses, constituted a matter which the enemy would have j valued had it been made public im-
mediately.
The report was prepared by Mr. Justice Lowe, who was appointed to inquire into the Japanese attack.