SEA CAPTAIN'S RUSE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 60, 8 September 1914, Page 8

SEA CAPTAIN'S RUSE

PASSENGERS STRANDED. By the Warrimoo to-day there returned to Wellington Brigadiers Carmichael and Gist and Major Page, who attended the Salvation Army Congress at Home. Upon arrival they had some interesting experiences to relate regarding their return, voyage. Travelling by the N.D.L. liner Roon all went well until war broke out between Britain and Germany. When the news was received the vessel had left Colombo bound for Fremantle. The captain immediately deemed it advisable to^make for a neutral port, and consequently made Java the destination of the vessel, but this arrangement was not made known to the passengers, who, to uee one's expression. "were completely hoodwinked hy the captain." The latter by various means made the passengers believe they were bound for Fre» mantle, and it was .not until nearing Java that )the captain's ruse was discovered The Roon carried a large number of passengers of all nationalities, and all were practically stranded. The various Consuls at Java did their utmost to assist the refugees, who included about 124 British, and these latter were compelled to make the best of matters for ten days, while the others were even more unfortunate It was then that the Dutch steamer Houtman arrived and conveyed those who desired to 'Brisbane. This port was leached last Wednesday morning, and the New Zealand passengers left next day for Sydney, where they boarded the Warrimoo, and came on 'to Wellington, arriving here none the worse for their experiences. A number of Germans were among the Roon's passengers, and owing to the' absence of the German Consul from Java, these will probably have to remain on the vessel until" circumstances will permit of their leaving.