DUTCH MUTINY SHIP.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20776, 9 February 1933, Page 9

DUTCH MUTINY SHIP.

9~. • CREW SENDS MESSAGJS. PUBLIC OPINION RISES ApAIN^T THE MEN. (VNITED TEESS ASSOCIATION — BT ELJCTJUC TELECpAra— COPYRIGHT.) BATAVIA, February 7. "The Scvc-n Provinces is now in the hands of tho crew. Our intention 13 to reach Sourabaya. We will not use force. One day before reaching Suurabaya we will receive our former commander, and will hand him over the ship. Our aim is to protest against wage-cutting and the imprisonment of our comrades who refused work. There fire no wounded prisoners aboard, and ail is well." (Signed) The Crew. The above wireless message has been sent by the mutineers. Public opinion is demanding the stopping of the adventure at the soonest possible moment, though some hesitation has been caused by the thought of the fate of flic Dutch prisoners aboard if force were used. Thousands of European, native, and Chinese citizens gathered to-night before tho palace of the Governor-Gen-eral, singing the national hymn and expressing their loyalty and faith in the Governor-General, who, in the course of a speech, said the crime of the mutineers would lead them nowhere. The latest information concerning tho Seven Provinces is' that she was proceeding by Sipora Island at 7 a.m., westward of the Zcebloem Straits, at a speed of seven knots. MUTINEERS PRAISED. COMMUNIST DEPUTIES IN their defence. (Received February 8, 8,50 p.m.) THE HAGUE, February 8. The Minister for Defence (Dr. L. Deckers) justified the prevention of the circulation of Labour and Socialist papers among the armed forces. The Communist Deputy. M. Wynkop, retorted, "Homage to the mutineers." To a Deputy lauding the {government, the Communist, M. de Visser, praised the mutineers. He regretted that the soldiers did not emulate them. MINISTER'S THREAT OF FORCE, DESPERATE INFLUENCES IN EAST. | THE HAGUE/ February 7. The Minister for Defence, Dr. L. N. Deckers, has announced that till the Dutch naval forces in the East Indies would be concentrated to deal with the native mutineers on th® training ship peven Provinces, with whom there can be no question of negotiating ijnr jets the battleship is immediately and unconditionally surrendered. The Government would employ force to deal with the ■> ''desperate influences' undermining Dutch authority in the East. . The Communists and Socialists interrupted the Minister repeatedly, and the Speaker of the House was obliged 1 to appeal for a fair hearing. The Minister for Defence convened by radio telephone with the Rear-Ad-miral in command of- the East Indies station concerning the forbidding of publication of the movements of ships and army units concentrated at Sprang (Java).