PRO-NAZI CAPTAIN

Grey River Argus, 19 June 1941, Page 6

PRO-NAZI CAPTAIN

Tries to Run Blockade v (Rec. 1.22). BATAVIA, June 18. Co-operation between the Dutch and Australian authorities and a commercial aviator, brought about the arrest of a Hungarian steamer, the “Nyugat,” in the Timor Sea, as cabled on June 10. It was revealed that the “Nyugat” disappeared with a cargo of Australian flour, shipped at Fremantle for Shanghai, valued at 1170,000. Captain Zoller, the Master of the vessel, a pro-Nazi, ignored a course which naval authorities allocated for him and he attempted to sail to Dilli, and thence to Formosa, where he hoped to transfer the vessel’s cargo rto Axis interests. The captain had the Hungarian flag painted out from the ship’s sides, and replaced it with extensive camouflaging. All this was done in 24 hours at sea. His attempt to run the blockade, however, was short-lived. The ship was captured by a Dutch destroyer, the “Kortenaer,” a prize crew from which were well received by the members of the crew, a mixture of Hungarians and Yugoslavs, with four negroes and six Chinese, but Captain Zoller sheared furious. Pie called his crew traitors, and accused them of sabotage, and of not making better speed. It was further revealed that the crew were bordering on the mutinous state, and had nick-named the Captain Hitler; the chief engineer, Mussolini. Members of the crew said the Captain paid them in Australia with cheques drawn on his private account, in an American bank. He used the company’s money for his own purposes. Sixteen hundred United States dollars were found secreted in the clothing and luggage of the Captain’s wife, who was also aboard the ship. The “Nyugat" will probably fly theDutch flag in future.