FATHER JERGER

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 July 1920, Page 5

FATHER JERGER

OFF TO COLOMBO

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN,

PASSENGERS WARNED

fAustralian and N.Z. Cable Association. \ (Received tills day at 11.29 p.m.) FREMANTLE, This Day, Passengers from the Khyber state that Father Jerger was allowed his liberty till approaching F.esmantio, when an armed-guard took Father Jer ger below to his cabin and guarded him. Fremantle passengers, before disembarking had to give an assurance that they would not carry any message from Father Jerger. The Khyber has sailed for Colombo. SYDNEY, July 25. Speaking at Bendigo, Mr. W. M. Hughes defended Father Jerger’s deportation in a fiery speech, and fierc ly denounced Dr. Mannix. He declared : “When we put a man aboard a ship by virtue of the law, the steamship companies, wharf labourers and seamen shall obey the law. If not we shall see what we shall see. Neither wll be allowed to defy the law of the land.” Denouncing the disloyalists, he declared he “would smite them-hip and thigh.” Referring to Dr. Mannix, he said he wanted the American people to know Dr. Manny,- did not represent Australia. If lie said his utterances were supported by the people of Australia he said what was untrue. Dr ; Mannix’s speeches in America stamped him as a man who had gam out in the guise of an Archbishop to foment war between England and Amer:ca. He was a man whose mission was political in essence. Dr. Mannix was a declared Sinn Feiner. He was rs'ng his high position in the church for purposes of pol.tical agitation. They wanted Americans to understand that Australia was part and parcel of Hie British Empire, and whose hand was against the Empire was against us. We wanted to he friendly and do business with America. Realising their Pacific destinies were the same they wanted America’s help in the Pacific. The Government would send a High Commissioner to America to reflect what he termed true Australian sentiment.

AT PERTH,

PERTH, July 26. The liner Khyber has arrived here. No communication w th the shore is permitted. The local passengers are being landed. The vessel is then proceeding direct for Colombo. Although no official statement is being made It is still freely rumoured by some that the vessel had a rendezvous with the cruiser Encounter, an 1 that- Father Jerger was transferred to the warship. The Supreme Court refused an application for a writ of habeas corpus calling upon the captain of the Khyber to show cause for his detention of Father Jerger. Leave to appeal was granted. BOYCOTT OF P. AND O. SYDNEY, July 26.

In v'ew of a boycott of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, having arisen out of Father Jerger’s deportation, the Company is ucav asking the Federal Government for compensation for any loss incurred. The wharf labourers here have refused io Avork the P. and O. steamer Berrima to-day. They were replaced by some men from the Non-Union Shipping Labour Bureau. In the event of tie boycott continuing at the other ports, the company’s steamers Avill load sufficient coal at Sydney to carry the vessels to Colombo.

It is claimed the deportation is exciting little interest in trades union ■circles in Sydney, some officials expressing the opinion that they have enough troubles of their own Avitliout start ng another stampede fr m Avork. MELBOURNE, July 22.

Application on behalf of Father Jergcr for an order to enable bis evidence in connection with his claim of fiA r e thousand damages for defamation from General Ryrie (assistant Minister of Defence) to be taken on commission, has been refused.