Sydney’s Welcome To Raider Victims

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 5, 7 January 1941, Page 6

Sydney’s Welcome To Raider Victims

RANGITANE’S CAPTAIN "WHITEST MAN ALIVE” SYDNEY, Jan. 5. A spontaneously cheerful welcome was given to-day to 328 survivors of ten ships sunk in the Pacific by German raiders. Prominent among the thousands who awaited their arrival iri Sydney by special train from Brisbane was the Governor-General, Lord Gowric. and Lady Gowrie, who shook hands and mingled and conversed happily with the British, Australian, New Zealand, Norwegian, French and Polish seamen, complimenting them on their good fortune in escaping with their lives. In the meantime, wives and daughters embraced affectionatcly and kissed their husbands and fathers in one of the most touching scenes witnessed in Sydney for years. Some of the men still wore beards grown during their captivity on the prison ships. The 12 wounded persons were carefully helped to ambulance vans, Red Cross nurses accompanying them to hospitals. Most of the seamen, besides being heavily bearded and bronzed, were poorly clad in travelstained clothes, and a few were clad in shorts and open-neck shirts. They carried what personal effects they had in canvas bags and picturesque native carry-alls brought as souvenirs from Emirau, the island on which they were landed by the raiders, but all were in high spirits. Governor-General Speaks. During the height of ttie excitement. Lord Gowrie mounted an improvised dais ou the railway platform and addressed the gathering. “My wife and I were most anxious to be here to tender you our personal sympathy for the terrible experiences you have been through, and also to congratulate you on the wonderful courage and fortitude you have shown,” he said. “We are horrified by your stories of how the enemy forces attacked defenceless ships in mid-ocean with women and children on board. Such acts should arouse the indignation and anger of the civilised world. The most I can do now is to give you an assurance that every step will be taken to see that dastardly outrages of this kind will not happen again.”

The whole company gave their Excellencies three most hearty cheers. The Federal Treasurer, Mr Fadden, also cordially welcomed the raider victims. “If one good thing comes out of your harrowing experiences, I hope it will be a realisation far certain Australian people that we are really at war and what it would mean if we were compelled to live under the Nazi regime.” The master of the Rangitane, Captain Upton, when invited to reply, received an ovation, which was prolonged by the members of the crews of the sunken ships. Some of his own men were heard to whisper: “He is the whitest man alive’.’ Captain Uptons Thanks. Deeply moved by the warmth of the tribute —there was a similar demonstration when leaving Brisbane—he said: “I will again try to put into words what we survivors feel toward the Government and people of Australia for the wonderful manner in which we have been welcomed to these shores once again. I have to confess that words are totally inadequate to express our gratitude. 1 must express our heartfelt thanks for the excellent organisation behind this rail • journey, and for the praiseworthy work that the Red Cross and other patriotic societies have done on our behalf.” Then followed another outburst of cheering and a mighty rush to shake his hand. The passengers and crews were driven in cars and omnibuses to various city hotels and boarding-houses, where they will be accommodated at the expense of the Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments, the shipping companies and the Children’s Overseas Reception Committee. The New Zealand passengers on the Holmwood and the Rangitane will be provided with fares to New Zealand. Among the raider victims, who were able to take a quick look over the Manyo Maru before being herded below, there is much speculation regarding her armaments, tonnage, and speed. There was no undue laudation of Hitler and no excess saluting. A Rangitane officer could not speak too highly of the conduct and demeanour of Captain Upton in dealing with the Manyo Maru’s commander, whose name is believed to be Eyssen. Captain Upton used such tact and diplomacy that Eyssen agreed to release the men of the Fleet Air Arm, but would not release Air Force men with a knowledge of radio work, because he said that they were trained men.