MISSING MEN RETURN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22247, 23 October 1935, Page 14

MISSING MEN RETURN

ALLEGED NAVAL DESERTERS TWO OF DIOMEDE'S CREW Two men who are alleged to have deserted from H.M.S. Diomede at Napier about a fortnight ago surrendered themselves on the Philomel on Monday afternoon. One was an actingpetty officer who recently escaped from close arrest on H.M.S. Philomel by making a dive through a porthole. Warrants for the arrest of both men had previously been issued, and when they reported themselves on Monday the master-at-arms informed tho central police station and cancelled the warrants, explaining that the men had given themselves up. As their ship, the Diomede, left New Zealand waters on Sunday, both men will be dealt with later on board the Philomel. "1 wish to make it quite clear that at the time that these two men left their ship at Napier, no orders for tho Diomede to proceed on special service abroad existed," said Commander B. C. B. Brooke, of the Philomel, yesterday. Tho acting-petty officer was in custody on the Philomel on Monday, October* 14, and escaped by climbing through the porthole and swimming ashore. He was under close arrest and the Royal Marine who was on guard dived into the harbour after him, but was handicapped by his uniform and could not overtake him. A search was subsequently carried out by a number of Royal Marines and the police, buc no further trace was found.