JERVIS BAY TROUBLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 196, 18 July 1928, Page 7

JERVIS BAY TROUBLE

VESSEL AT SOUTHAMPTON. STORY RETOLD. CAPTAIN’S ACTION JUSTIFIED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received July 18, 9.45 a.m. LONDON, July 17. The steamer Jervis Bay, which caused such a stir recently owing to reports of a mutinous outbreak on the part of eight stowaways, has arrived at Southampton. The passengers insist that the captain was fully justified in sending the wireless messages “as things looked fairly bad for a time.” The majority of them state that they saw nothing of the occurrences. Though interest in the Jervis Bay virtually evaporated at Colombo with tho sentencing of the stowaways, the hews tapes at the moment aro turning out long interviews. These are a recapitulation of tho thread bare story already published, though they are presented from different angles according to the passengers’ sympathies. One instance is a woman—she gave her initials as “L.R.”—who offered the opinion that it was “disgraceful of the captain to hose the poor stowaways.” The male passengers generally treated the episodes lightly. Ex-Petty Officer Forster, who was one of the volunteer guards, said: “I cannot say whether tho trouble was prearranged, but the worst of it was that it scared tho women. W. Deas states: “Except for two women in hysterics when the men were hosed, the passengers were calm and strongly supported the captain.” Captain Daniel was asked if he wished to make any fresh statement apart from the evidence at Colombo. Ho replied: “It is all over and done with. I want to forget it. What is tho use of reviving it.” An Australian Press representative informed Captain Daniel of the nature of the discussions in the House of Commons, including tho suggestion that the owners should p:ty for the naval costs. WHAT IS THE NAVY FOR? Captain Daniel stated: “Why, what is the navy for unless to police the oceans? Wasn’t it its duty to help when asked? Anyhow, what did the navy do? It took four days to get a ship to my assistance.” Captain Daniel added that there was no written report of any sort. He would report verbally to the chairman of the board of the Aberdeen-Common-wealtli Line. Asked if he intended remaining under the new management, he replied: “Yes, if they will have me.”