CREW FOR DALFRAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 28, 3 February 1939, Page 7

CREW FOR DALFRAM.

Vessel Expected to Sail With Pig Iron for Japan. RUMOURS OF SABOTAGE. (Received 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. No difficulty was experienced in obtaining British members of the crew to lill the vacancies on the steamer Dalfram, from which there were six deserters, who refused to sail to Japan with pig iron. The vessel completed loading pig iron yesterday.

Reports that an attempt would be made to prevent the vessel sailing from Port Kcmbla for Japan by disabling it with bombs were received by the police, who made a careful search. Nothing of an explosive nature was revealed.

A strict watch will 'be maintained until the Dalfram leaves. MYSTERY 'PLANE. Japan's Excuse for Firing at British Machine. UNKNOWN NATIONALITY. (ltocclvod 2 p. 111.) TOKYO, February 2. The Admiralty spokesman admitted that the naval force at Waichow Island lircd on "a mystery 'plane of unknown nationality" in self-defence. This refers to the shots fired at the Imperial Airways' machine when flying to Hanio from Hongkong. JAPANESE VERSION. BORDER CLASH WITH SOVIET. (Received 30 a.m.) TOKYO, February 2. The Japanese version of the clash with Russians on the Mancliukuo frontier yesterday alleges that 100 Soviet troops crossed the frontier and attacked a Japanese station, which resisted. The Soviet soldiers retired after the loss of five killed and three wounded. Tile Japanese suffered no casualties. The Japanese Government has strongly protested to Russia. VISIT TO GOLD COAST. NEW BRITISH DESTROYER. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 2. The Admiralty'has arranged for the Aslianti, one of the destroyers of the Tribal class just completed, to make a cruise along the Gold Coast before taking up duty in the Home Fleet. She will visit Freetown and Takovadi, where a new harbour has been built by the Gold Coast Government at a cost of £3,000,000.