MUTINY IN DUTCH NAVY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20774, 7 February 1933, Page 9

MUTINY IN DUTCH NAVY.

NATIVE CREW OVERPOWERS

OFFICERS.

RUNAWAY VESSEL IS NOW © AT SEA.

(TTKITBD ratss associatiok— by electbic TBLEGKAPH—COPIBIOHT.)

LONDON, February 5,

The Hague correspondent of "The Times" says that a cut in army and navy wages in the Dutch East Indies culminated in dangerous trouble. Two of the largest cruisers went to sea after forty-eight members of their mutinous crews had been arrested. Then a mutiny occurred at the naval, depots, resulting in the transportation of 423 offenders. ■ . To-day the native crew of the training ship Seven Provinces, (Do Zeven Provincien) dissatisfied because of a■ cut of 17 per cent., compared with 15 per cent, for Dutchmen, overpowered the officers remaining after the commander and most of the senior officers had gone ashore, seized the vessel, and for parts unknown, laboriously pursued by the small and slower Government ship Aldebaran.

An earlier message stated that De Zeven Provincien was built in 1910. She is of 6530 tone displacement and carries a complement of 417. The incident occurred at the harbour of Oleleh, Sumatra. . , A message from Batavia on Saturday stated that native ratings on warships in the harbour and at the naval establishment at Sourabaya refused duty on Friday and wore to be court-martialled. An army detachment stood by but intervention was unnecessary.

SQUADRON SEEKING MUTINEERS. CAPTAIN AND OFFICERS WERE ASHORE. THE HAGUE, February 5. ' The native crew of De Zeven Provincien secured rifles and ammunition, and with bayonets fixed caused the nine Dutch officers aboard to surrender while the captain and other officers were ashore. They then took the vessel out of port. The Alcfebaran, which is now in purr suit, has De Zeven Province's captain and naval and military detachments aboard. The mutineers are believed to be heading for Bourabaya. The Dutch squadron exercising near tac south coast of the Celebes is also endeavouring to intercept the mutineers.