SUSPECT YAWL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1939, Page 14

SUSPECT YAWL

ACTION BY U.S.A.

(Received December 16, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, December 14. The yawl Lakala, manned by a Ger-man-speaking crew, which was detained temporarily a week ago, has been served with an order to remain under United States jurisdiction because of the belief that the yawl was preparing to violate American neutrality by carrying supplies or information to a German ship at sea. of whom are returned soldiers, are keeping their lonely vigil day and night in isolated and wind-swept spots. "Another very important item in the I naval defence of the Empire .and the '< protection of merchant shipping, is the arming of merchant ships so that they can act in their own defence when attacked by the enemy on the high seas. The naval base at Auckland has up to date equipped no fewer than twenty ships with guns of 4in or higher calibre, and each of these ships has sailed from Auckland with a gun's ■crew, the nucleus of which is formed by three of the young men of the New Zealand Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. These ships are now continuing to trade in distant parts of the world, from which you will realise how farflung is the contribution which the men of this Dominion are making in the common cause. This work of arming merchant ships and manning their guns is continuing steadily. "It will be remembered that the Doric Star was recently attacked by an enemy raider; this was one of the ships provided with a gun and a gun's crew i in New Zealand, so this means that these three men were the first members of the New Zealand Naval Forces! to be in action with the enemy. "All this work of fitting out and equipping ships has thrown tremendous strain upon the workmen employed at the base at Devonport, and at the naval armament depot at Kauri Point. They have had to put in long hours and the work has proceeded smoothly and without a hitch. "Side by side with the devoted service being given by the naval officers and men, mention should also be made of the members of the Public Service at Wellington and Auckland who for some time before the outbreak of war i and ever since have been working long hours under conditions of great strain. Their work is less spectacular than that of the seagoing ships, but is | none the less vital to the prosecution I of the war." '