Ships and the Sea

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 28

Ships and the Sea

BritisH Officers Badly Treated. Much has been written about tliu horrors of the convict settlement in French Guiana and the dreadful sufferings of the unfortunato beings condemned to incarceration there (says a recent edition of "Syrcu and Shipping")- It may be that somo of tho tales told havo been exaggerated, but it is evident from the details of tho claims lodged by the British Government against the French Government ou behalf of two Mercantile Marino of-

fleers who died as a result of the treatment they received at the hands of the French colonial authorities that many, oven of the gravest charges, may have good foundation. The story told by Mr. Basil Peto, M.P., a. 1 Mr. J. Sandeman Allen, M.P., who have taken up the matter on behalf 'of the relatives of the victims, is a distressing one. The officers in question were Captain J. G. Joys, of the s.s. Edith Cavell —a name imperishably associated with martyrdom—and his chief officer, Mr. Buxton. The vessel was under charter by the French Government .to carry stores to French' Guiana, and while On the Moroni River, near Cayenne, with a local pilot on board, in November, 1924, the ship struck a rock and became a total loss. It was alleged by tho captain that the' pilot was entirely incompetent, but the latter on his part declared that the fault lay with the master and his officers. The upshot was that Captain Joys, Mr. Buxton, and the chief engineer were arrested on the charge of wilfully casting away the ship and were thrown into a loathsome and grossly insanitary prison mainly occupied by natives. The chief engineer was released within a few days, but the other two mon were held there for nearly a month, until through tho efforts of the owners, backed up strongly by the Imperial Merchant Service Guild, their release on bail was procured by the Foreign Office. They returned to England in April, 1925, badly broken down in health as a result of the sufferings they ondured, and tho captain died last December from the effects of his imprisonment, the chief officer succumbing recently from the same cause. In March last year an inquiry into the circumstances of the Edith Cavcll's loss was held in Cayenne, but, largely owing to the exertions of Mr. Sandeman Allen in Paris, proceedings were stopped by order of the French Government. A Board of Trade inquiry was also instituted, as a result of which the captain and officers were completely exonerated. The claims for compensation— in the case of the captain for SIOOO, and in that of the chief officer £750 — were lodged, and it is gratifying to learn that these are to be pressed to the utmost. The French Government are in possession of all the facts, and although they have, it is understood, pleaded that they can do nothing in the matter, French Guiana being financially autonomous, it is to be hoped they will be induced to recognise that they have moral responsibilities, which cannot 'be evaded.

Another Long Towage. The Bugsier Towage and Salvage Company of Hamburg has added to its long list of successes by towing a floating dock 215 ft in length by 76ft breadth, from Hamburg to Montevideo. The towage was carried out by the tug Max Berendt, of 1100 h.p., which has a bunker capacity of 600 tons, and is specially constructed for ocean service. She left Hamburg on 2nd April, and arrived at Montevideo on 20th June, the distance of 6600 miles having t-ken 79 days. Calls were made for bunkers at Las Palmas and St. Vincent only. The distance from St. Vinceiit to Montevideo is 3700 miles, but the voyage was made without a call. In spite of heavy gales and_a terrific pampero off the South Brazilian coast, an average speed of 3.6 knots was maintained. The fact that the (lock was promptly delivered in Montevideo without sustaining any damage whatever must be attributed to the capabilities of the tug, and the excellent seamanship and skill of her master and crew. Germany's Inland Waterways. A scheme is projected for the construction of a canal to connect the Ruhr with the Elbe (states a recent number of "The Shipping World"), and thus provide a direct waterway communication between the Buhr coalfields and the German North Sea and Baltic ports. A technical commission consisting of representatives, of the Ministry of Transport and the various bodies interested in the scheme has beon appointed and is to examine the various questions in connection with the project. Shipbuilding Comparisons. In June Clyde shipyards launched 12 vessels of 18,521 tons gross, making the river's total output for tha six months of the year to date 80 vessels of 158,----552 tons gross. In the first half of 1925 the output was 119 vessels of 302,057 tons gross. In the same month the Forth yards launched three vessels of 371 tons gross, a Tay yard two vessels of 200 tons, and Scottiih NorthEast Coast yards four vessels of .00 tons. An Unusual Case. A lady passenger recently obtained n judgment for 1)000 dollars against the White Star Lino for injuries receiveii whilst in the swimming pool of the Majestic at sea, and it -is now satisfactory to note, says the "Daily Commercial News," that the White Star Lino has, in a Superior Court in the United States, had the verdict set aside. Judge Callaghan in his judgment on the appeal said that the evidence did not show that the defendants wore guilty of negligence or the plaintiff free from contributory negligence. There waa,

lie said, no proof of an unusual storm, of an unusual condition of tho sea, or that tho ship was riding the seas in an unusual manner. Ho added that, whntovor the condition of tho swimming pool may have been, tho plaintiff, being an experienced woman, was quito competent to judge' whether it was dangerous to go into it at the time in question, for she know the condition of tho vessel, whether or not it was tossing and rolling in su'ih a way as to make it dangerous to usa the pool, and her use of it would in any event constitute negligence on her part. Recognition of Services. The Board of Trade has received, through the Foreign Office, silver medals and diplomas of the Spanish Society for the Saving of Life at Sea, which have beon awarded to Captain H. G. Staunton, master, and Mr. J. S. Metcalf, second officer, of the steamer Orama, of Barrow, in recognition of their services in rescuing the shipwrecked crew of the Spanish sloop i Asuncion off Cape Finisterre, on 19th November, 1925. Shipbuilding in Morocco. A steel lighter of 300 tons, entirely built by a local firm, has just been launched at Casablanca, Morocco. This is the first time, writes a correspondent of "The Shipping World," that a craft | of that size has been built and launched ! in Morocco. Amalgamation Approved. The United States Shipping Board Has approved the amalgamation of tho American India Line and the Atlantic Australian Line to be operated for Shipping Board account by the Eoosevelt Steamship Company. The Shipping of Livestock.

Owing to the gradual increase ia the importation of livestock to Great Britain from Canada and South Africa, interest has been aroused at Home as to what will be the effect on refrigerated imports from Australasia and Argentina. The arrival at Birkenhead recently of a large consignment of Rhodesian cattle shows among many other,possibilities how well beasts can stand up to ia sea voyage and not lose condition if properly tended. The consignment referred to consisted of 180 beasts, which included fine specimens of Aberdeen Angus, Herefords, North Devons, Shorthorns, and Lincolns. The cattle made the long railway journey from Bulawayo to Capetown very comfortably, and were shipped on the Kazeinbe. They all stood the voyage well. There we- . no deaths en route, and the beasts were all landed in excellent condition. The pens and ■ fittings were fitted at Capetown, and both shippers and consignees expressed themselves as perfectly satisfied with the whole arrangement. During the voyage the beasts were tended by seven cattlemen and one foreman. This is the third consignment that has arrived at Home from South Africa during the past twelve months, and it is pointed out that this shows that the business has developed beyond the mere experimental stage. Kecord Voyage. On her maiden voyage to the Commonwealth from Liverpool, the new Blue Funnel motorship Orestes, coming by way of the Cape of Good Hope, reached Adelaide after a record passage of 34 days from Liverpool. This is considered all the more meritorious because of the bad weather encountered at this time of the year on the run across the Indian Ocean. The Orestes will load on the wool berth, catering for the opening sales, and will be followed later by her sister ship, the Idomeneus, which leaves Liverpool next month for Australia. Pacific Coast to Australia. Information received in Sydney announces that Swayne and Hoyt, of San Francisco, operating vessels for the United States Shipping Board, will shortly inaugurate a new monthly service from Pacific Coast ports to New Zealand and Australia. The steamer Montague departed from Los Angeles on 15th August for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, New Plymouth, thence proceeding to the Philippine Islands to load back to Australian ports. A monthly service is to be inaugurated and steamers engaged will leturn from the Dominion to the Pacific Coast. Advice has also been received that another monthly service is to be inaugurated from Pacific Coast ports to Auckland, "Wellington, Melbourne, Sydriey, and Brisbane. Vessels employed in this service will load at Australian ports for the Philippines and Hong Kong, and returning to American ports. The beginning of this move was maSe on 16th June last, when the United States Shipping Board voted to consolidate the American Far East Line and the Pacific Australasia Line for the purpose of securing more economy in operation. The Consolidated Service was allocated to Swayne and Hoyt, of Sun Francisco, present operators of the Pacific. The Far East Line, which has been operated by Strutters and Barry, of San Franciscoj maintains nine cargo vessels of aggregate tonnage of 86,102 deadweight tons. The Pacific Australasia Line has seven vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 61,670 deadweight tons. The total tonnage for the now line has not been decided upon, but it is understood that President Crowley, of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, on whose recommendation the new line has been created as such, will seek to reduce the total amount, thus producing a greater cargo carriage per vessel. A principal feature of consolidating these services is a move to make the combined line more attractive to possible purchases of ships on the West Coast. It is understood that sale of the new service will be sought as soon as the qualifications of the combined line have been established.

Wireless Telephones on Ships. Since the Australian Navigation Act was passed, says the "Daily Commercial News and Shipping List," there have been great advances in the utilisation of wireless, especially in regard to its application to telephony. As the provisions of the Act do not apply to vessels which run within the limit of any one State, many ships trading on the Australian coast do not carry wireless equipment. Therefore, in considering the wider application of wireless to secure safety at sea, the PostmasterGeneral has opened negotiations with the State Governments dealing with this phase of the question. Particular attention is being paid to the possibilities of telephony. Wireless telephones up to a range of 100 miles have been installed on the trawlers running out of Sydney and have proved effective. Quite recently it was decided to have, a wireless telephone installed on a lighthouse off tko Victorian coast. The committee which the. PostmasterGeneral has appointed will not only investigate the application of the ■wireless telephone to coastal vessels and lighthouses, but will inquire into the best type of apparatus, the cost of installation, and the cost of maintenance. The proposals outlined are of the deepest interest, and if it is ascertained that they are practical they may be the means of better protection of life and property at sea.