VESSEL'S WANDERINGS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 1, 3 January 1916, Page 8

VESSEL'S WANDERINGS

FIREMEN REFUSE TO WORK THE SHIP

ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED AT

MALTA,

The story of the Maheno's voyage shows that the shore of Anzao waß_sight-"

Ed on 25th August, and. the anchors let down within a mile from the beach. Wounded soldiers were immediately taken on board, and after waiting until relieved by another hospital ship—one had always to be in the vicinity—her bow Was directed towards Lemnos. The ship was more or less constantly engaged in this service for a number of weeks. On no occasion did the enemy ever attempt to fire on the ship, and the conduct of the Turks forced everyone to come to the conclusion that they were clean fighters. Warships near at hand were constantly firing at the Turkish positions, and" the shrieking of shells and the sound of shots fired in reply were unnerving. Stray bullets very frequently struck the ship's side and decks, whilst'shells at times came dangerously close. Orders to proceed to Malta resulted in the Maheno being in that port on 22nd September. The instructions were that she was to leave two days later. When the time arranged for departure arrived, one of the firemen had not returned to the ship. Other firemen refused to proceed to sea until he returned or a substitute was found. They maintained this attitude despite the fact that the captain offered to take off one boiler. Captain Mac Lean then instructed the chief engineer to take the ship out to sea with his own staff. When the Maheno was just outside the three-mile | limit the firemen were again interviewed and asked to return to work. They j still persisted in their refusal, however. A message was sent to shore stating the position. In reply, instructions were received that the ship was to return to Malta at daybreak the following day, 25th September. On entering the harbour the following morning, civil police came on board, and the firemen who refused duty, numbering about 26, were arrested. *They were next day sentenced to twelve- weeks' imprisonment, with hard labour, and a complement of Maltese firemen, who were found to be much inferior to the British firemen, was taken on board.