GERMAN CAPTAIN IN N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 12

GERMAN CAPTAIN IN N.Z.

Minesweeper Master In World War II “The Press" Special Service A quiet, immaculately dressed German sea captain sat in his cabin in Wellington sipping black coffee and musing over the fact that in 1925 he was a seaman fighting a storm in a crippled sailing vessel off North Cape, had commanded a German naval ship during World War II and was now back in New Zealand waters again, once more in a modern peaceful trading craft Captain Richard Bueschler, master of the first German ship to visit the port of Wellington fot more than 20 years—since before hostilities broke out in September, 1939—said he hoped this would be only the first of many such trips to Wellington in charge of his present command, the 3416-ton Gustav Pistor.

Captain Bueschler comes from Hamburg, as does his ship. The vessel is new. streamlined, and Grey-haired and slightly built. Captain Bueschler said yesterday his first visit to New Zealand wa? when the Gustav Pistor called at Auckland last year. Blit on his first trip as an apprentice aboard the famous sailing vessel Hamburg in 1925. the ship, on a voyage between Sydney and Europe with a cargo of wheat, broke her rudder off North Cape. She drifted very near New Zealand, but managed to limp back to Australia for repairs After service with various ships and joining his present company. Captain Bueschler was called to service with the German Navy during World War 11. He held the rank of kommander and was in charge of a minesweeper throughout the war. “I was in command of a minesweeper for two and a half years after the war, too,” he said. ‘ was clearing up minefields —but 1 was under command of the Royal Navy.” ,