Preferred to be Land Lubbers

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 7

Preferred to be Land Lubbers

TWELVE SEAMEN WHO DIDN’T THEN TO Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 13. The absence shortly before sailing time to-night of exactly 25 per cent, of 12 members of the entire complement of tho Hamburg-Amcrika steamer Dortmund prevented her scheduled departure from Auckland for Sydney. Four of the men returned to the ship, somo visiting the wharf allegedly under the impression that she had sailed and the steamer moved to the stream at a late hour. It is hoped to despatch the Dortmund in the morning. The Dortmund, which carries a full German crew of 4S officers and men, ha 3 been discharging cargo from the United States on the New Zealand coast and completed to-day at Auckland, being scheduled to sail about 8 o’clock tonight for Australia. While she was at New Plymouth last week a boy failed to report at sailing time for Auckland. Two men left the ship here on Monday and a further two absented themselves on Tuesday evening. The remaining seven were missing this afternoon and to-night the total absentees were two sailors, four boys, five trimmers and one steward, on each of whom £IOO bond would have had to be deposited before the Dortmund could have cleared the port. An extensive search resulted in the four trimmers returning at intervals during the night and shortly after 11 p.m. tho steamer was moved to an anchorage in the stream. It is considered that the Dortmund can sail if two of tho remaining eight missing men arc found and the search will be continued.