TAIROA'S CREW

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1940, Page 5

TAIROA'S CREW

ALTMARCK PRISONERS. The well-known New Zealand trad* er, Tairoa, it will be remembered, fell a victim to the Graf Spee and her officers and crew were made prisoners and put aboard the Altmarck, .from which they were set free by H.M.S. Cossack. The owners of the Tairoa, the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, have advised their manager for New Zealand, Mr. V. Bevan, that “Captain Starr and all the crew of the Tairoa. were, generally speaking, in good health when landed from the Altmarck.” The company has received the following letter from Sir John Gilmour, British Minister for Shipping:— “The release of the prisoners from the Altmarck through the magnificent work of the Navy and the Ah Force has given the whole country the liveliest satisfaction, and I am sure that the news has been received with a peculiar sense of relief by the owners of the ships from which the prisoners were originally taken. I need scarcely say that I am delighted that the rescue for which we have all hoped for so many weeks has now been effected, and I should be grateful if you would convey to the master, officers, and men of yotfr ss. Tairoa my good wishes on their return to their own country. Would you please tell them how happy I am at their release, how much I sympathise with them in the sufferings which they have endured, and how much 1, and all their countrymen, admire the splendid pluck and spirit which never deserted them even in the darkest days of their captivity. I hope that they, will all make a speedy recovery from any ills that may have resulted from the privations to winch they were subjected, and that they will soon be completely restored to health aria happiness.”