DISABLED FREIGHTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1946, Page 7

DISABLED FREIGHTER

EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT BRITISH PORT THE SALVAGE QUESTION (Rec. 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, August 5. An Admiralty report states that the disabled freighter American Farmer is making good progress and should reach port about midnight on Wednesday. The owners’ representative, Mr. Smythe, said: “She is coming to an English port, possibly Falmouth, unless the weather gets bad, when she would probably make for. Queenstown, Eire.” Aid No Longer Needed. United States Navy Headquarters said it was understood that the American Farmer had water in two holds but her bulkheads were holding and she was proceeding to port. The destroyer Perry had, it was believed, left the scene. The message added that the commander-in-chief at Plymouth had ordered the tug Samsonia to return to Plymouth as it was assumed her assistance was no longer required.

Two women and a baby were among the six passengers aboard the American Farmer when the collision with the William J. Riddle occurred.

“Security Blackout” United States Navy officials ordered a “security blackout” on the crew of the William J. Riddle when she reached port. Nevertheless a member of the William J. Riddle’s crew told the Exchange Telegraph Agency that the “lights of the American Farmer loomed up out of the fog on oui' starboard bo,w and before anything could be done there was one mighty crash. It was impossible, owing to the fog, to see the other vessel’s name. “Our radio man tried to make contact with her but was unsuccessful.« Then someone saw a light from a lifeboat coming through the gloom. 1 The six passengers were the first aboard the William J. Riddle and other lifeboats brought the crew, including the master, Captain Cronin. The American Farmer by daybreak was settling down and it looked odds-on that she would sink.” ;

BRITISH FLAG HAULED DOWN BY AMERICANS

LONDON, August 5

A bitter argument between the captains of a British steamer and an American merchantman’ while the United States destroyer stood by, marked salvage attempts to bring to port a disabled merchantman —a valuable prize worth more than £l,125,000. * The owners of the Elizabeth have asked the Treasury . Solicitor (Sir Thomas Barnes) to investigate the “extraordinary boarding incident” when the crew of the American Ranger took over the salvage of the American Farmer with the American destroyer standing by. A director of the company (Mr. E. J. Goldsmith) gives the texts of signals received from the master of the Elizabeth.

The first signal from Captain Millers, early on August 4, stated that he had taken the derelict American Farmer in tow, but was making little headway.

. Captain Millers’s second signal late the same day said: “We were making good headway when a crew from the American Ranger boarded the derelict, ordered our crew to leave, hauled down, our ensign, and hoisted the American flag. I-am now clearing tow ropes and proceeding.” Mr. Goldsmith later said: “We refered this high-handed American action to the Admiralty, who assured us that they were watching developments closely.

“Reports from Captain Millers show that our prize crew was outnumbered but I don’t think they would submit to seeing the British flag struck without putting up some sort of struggle.”

“Captain Millers put a tow rope on the American Farmer, but,” says the Daily Express, “the American Ranger (another United States freighter) raced to the scene soon after* and also put aboard a prize crew, and threw off the tow rope. “When the American Ranger was seen to be’lowering boats Captain Millers signalled: ‘Keep off. She is mine.’ “The American boats held their course and drew alongside. The crew swarmed aboard, and after a few minutes the Red Ensign fluttered down from the American Farmer and the Stars and Stripes was run up in its place. “The agents for the American Farmer commented: ‘We told Captain Johnson of the American Ranger, to call on the destroyer for aid if-neces-sary.’ “It was a most high-handed action,” said Mr. Goldsmith earlier. “It was our prize, and as far as I am concerned it still is. I hardly think our men would be turned off without a fight.”