CRUISER PERTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 184, 7 August 1939, Page 7

CRUISER PERTH.

NEW YORK VISIT.

Press Reports Of Mutiny Cause Amusement.

WHAT DUCHESS DIDN'T SEE. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Rocoived 1 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 6. An incident aboard H.M.A.S. Perth lias been magnified by the popular Press to such an extent that the "Sunday News" to-dav carries hold headings: "Aassies Mutiny—Officers Too British." This and similar reports aroused amusement aboard the cruiser. There was annoyance, however, at further false statement that 200 men had returned late from the first night's leave, there has not been a single absentee. It is admitted that the men have been working hard because of the slyp's hurried commissioning, but all were given full leave.

Owing to tTie congested state of the dockyards the commissioning was rushed through at such speed that there was only time to clean the port side of the sliip for the recliristening by the Duchess of Kent. This was the only side she saw.

'I he Australian officers outnumber British by 20 to 1:!. The latter are all paying their first visit to Australia. Captain H. 1?. Karnconib is the first Australian-commissioned Captain. The ratings include 112 voting Australians at sea for t lie first time. The ship is still in the process of "shaking down." but already there is a healthy espirit de corps.

The true facts are that when the cruiser arrived, although blue uniforms are permitted in Australia, the men were ordered to wear white for shore leave. The men objected because the white rig soils quickly and would be hard to wash, as there is no space on the cruiser's decks to hang clothes out to dry and having uniforms laundered ashore is declared to be too expensive.

The men's objections were conveyed through the commander to Captain H. B. Farncomb. who 'agreed that the order should be changed and the men permitted to wear blue uniforms.

However, the newspapers refer to "a delegation waiting on the captain" and, according to the "Sunday News," the incident was precipitated by the men's objections to excessive drilling, poor food and the officers' "martinet stuff." An unnamed sailor is quoted as saying: "Our liofficers are being too blinkv Limey. Tliev are trying to enforce the kind of discipline they do in British ships. They seem to forget we are Australians."

The uniform situation arose because until the vessel reaches Australian waters the cruiser is under direct Admiralty control and is at present operating under the West Indies Station order, which prescribe white uniforms for landing at foreign ports.