MINIATURE BATTLE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 November 1925, Page 9

MINIATURE BATTLE

EXTRA EDITION.

STRIKERS RAID STEAMER. SLEEPING SEAMEN ATTACKED. REPELLED BY REVOLVER SHOTS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. (Received Nov. 9, 12.5 p.m.) BRISBANE, Nov. 9. . The deck of the Port Victor was the seenei of a miniature battle when the vessel was raided by a party of strikers from the steamers Barrabool, Port Sydney and Port Auckland. The raiders were not dispersed until three of them were wounded by revolver shots by the ships’ officers. Hostilities commenced when several seamen, reaching 'the top gangway, knocked down the quartermaster. A party of forty others climbed, over the side' to the deck, stripped thff small booby hatches, using the timber as batons. They also carried iron bars. The raiders invaded the forecastle head, where a number of seamen were sleeping. With batons, iron bars and legs wrenched from the table in the forecastle, the raiders took a heavy toll of the sleeping seamen, who could only defend themselves with their bare fists.' Things were very ugly when the chief officer appeared, brandishing a revolver, and the raiders quickly fled over the side. In the meantime a desperate fight was raging on the gangway. An officer drew his revolver and fired, dropping one of the strikers. Two more shots were fired and two invaders were injured. . Policemen in the meantime had arrival! and the three raiders were removed to hospital suffering from bullet wounds. , , The casualties on the Port Victor . totalled twelve, but none were serious. Later the second wireless operator o± the Port Victor was arrested on a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm. SIGNS OF COLLAPSE. REPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA. MEN RETURNING TO WORK. (Received Nov. 9, 12.5 P* m *) V BRISBANE, Nov 9. After a meeting the crew or the Barrabool decided to return to work. Watersiders, at Bowen resolved to return to work to-day as a result of pressure placed on the extremists by the farmers. MELBOURNE, Nov. 9. Manned bv scratch crews, three oversea steamers arrived from Australian ports during the week-end. P ADELAIDE, Nov 9. The strike is collapsing m South Australia. Part of the crew of the steamer Westmorland were released from gaol, and were conveyed straight to the ship. A number of strikers has also returned to the Balranald.