When Greek Meets German...

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 1

When Greek Meets German...

(N Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 15. Because a Greek could not understand German and a German could not understand Greek and neither could understand English, things became complicated in t h e Magistrate’s Court at Dunedin today. But a Dane, who spoke German and English, and a Greek interpreter who was hard of hearing, eventually managed to sort things out. The situation arose after a dispute this morning between a German and a Greek, both members of the crew of the Danish ship, Mads Skou.

The police charged the

German. Helmut Fritz Schlitzkus, with assaulting Anistasios Mikronis—the Greek. The German denied that he had assaulted the Greek and this is where the language difficulties really started. Mikronis, and his crew compatriots, through the Greek interpreter, maintained that the German had menaced them with a knife. One of the Greeks said that he had to disarm the German.

But the German, with the help of a Danish ship’s officer, as interpretor, admitted he had a knife, but he said he did not intend to harm anybody. The trouble arose, said the German, when he went to get the Greeks out of their bunks at 10 a.m.

He wanted them to help and he admitted swearing at them. He called them “Greek b s," and the Danish officer hastily explained to the Court that while the German could not speak English, the term “b ” was international.

Senior Sergeant R. M.

Schwass explained the ship had a crew’ comprising Danish officers, Dutch, Greeks, Germans, Arabs, Mexicans, and other Central Americans. The Greeks were so upset about the whole matter that they were now adamant that they would not sail on the same ship as the German. “I am sure you did not intend to use the knife,” Mr J. D. Murray, S.M., -told the German, “but in a British court a threat in this manner constitutes an assault.” With this all the Greeks and the German shrugged and the Danish officer beamed as the Magistrate announced his penalty—a £lO fine for the German. But as far as the Greeks are concerned, the Court decision has done nothing to resolve their problem. Immediately the Court rose they held an animated discussion with their interpreter who told the police that the Greeks would not go back on the ship as long as the German was there.

.All being well the ship will sail at 9 a.m. tomorrow.