MARTINIQUE

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1943, Page 2

MARTINIQUE

FRENCH SAILORS ATTEMPT TO STEAL SHIP.

NEW YORK, May 16

The story of how French sailors almost succeeded in stealing the 6500 tons cruiser, Jeanne d’Arc from Admiral Robert, is told by sailors who escaped from Martinique, says the “New York Times.” The plot began early in 1943. The conspirators never knew more than one or two other conspirators, and messages came mj'steriously. Eventually, enough men became interested to form a crew and sail the ship to the nearest American port. On Good Friday, the conspirators raided the ship’s stores and rifles and armed themselves. They prepared to capture the officers and take them shackled to an Allied por.t However, at the last moment the officers intercepted the conspirators’ message and several men were immediately clapped in a brig. Others escaped to a lonely part of the island, where they purchased a fishing boat, in which after a 30 hours’ trip they reached the British Island of Dominica from where they later came to New York, in order to join the de Gaullists.