ADVENTURES END

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23863, 14 January 1941, Page 82

ADVENTURES END

SURVIVORS RETURN !ADULTS AND CHILDREN INTERVIEWS with police After a month at sea on board German raiders, a few days on the island of Emiran, in the Bismarck Group, and a brief stay in Australia, most of the passengers and crew of the small steamer Holmwood, and two women survivors Irom the liner Rangitane, reached Auckland yesterday by the American liner Mariposa. The majority appeared lit and well, although one at least was suffering as an after-effect of wounds,'and others were showing signs of nervous strain. Members of the party, comprising about 30 men, women and children, were delighted to be back in New Zealand. They told frankly of their adventures, but the majority wished to forget the unexpected interruption of their voyages and to resume their normal life as rapidly as possible. . The Mariposa anchored in the stream for a .considerable time after her arrival, and was boarded by a large party of detectives, who interviewed the survivors. Representatives of the armed services also went on board the liner, which did not berth until about 9.30 a.m. The Mayor. Sir Ernest Davis, and officers of the Internal Affairs Department, and tlu War Pensions Department also went on board when the Mariposa berthed, and the many and varied formalities associated with the arrival oi the party were completed as rapidly as the many inteiviews necessary made possible. Special reference was made by several of the passengers to the complete arrangements made on their behalf by the Government. They expressed keen appreciation ot the obvious care with which their reception had been planned.

WOMEN'S ESCAPE

ONE HIT BY SHRAPNEL

RANGITANE PASSENGERS

EXPERIENCES AFTER CAPTURE

Of the survivors of the Rangitane, wliich was destroyed by German raiders, two returned by the Mariposa yesterday. They were Miss F. Macdonald and -Miss M. R. Black, of Christchurch, who were cabin mates at the time of , the disaster. Miss Black went on by 'the Mariposa to Ix>s Angeles, but Miss Macdonald, who is a visitor from England, is remaining in New Zealand.

The first she knew of the shelling cf the Rangitane, Miss Macdonald said yesterday, was when she was awakened at about 4 a.m. by a sound like the | clanging of an iron door. It was not 'until several more shots had landed that Miss Black realised the vessel was being shelled.

They both jumped up and made a dash, and just as they got outside the cabin it was struck and fell in, bursting into flame. Miss Macdonald made bet way to the purser's office, where she bad shrapnel wounds in the right arm and right leg dressed. Miss Macdonald was taken in a stretcher from a lifeboat on board a raider, and for three davs she and the other women prisoners were confined below. It was the vessel known as the Narvik on which they were, but they were transferred three days later to the supply ship Tokyo Maru. where conditions were much more comfortable. "The Germans were very kind." Miss Macdonald said. "The only trouble was shortage of food. The doctors were excellent anji treated us most respectfully."

Gratitude to the Australian Government and to the Red Cross, and also to the New Zealand Government, for all that had been done for the rescued was expressed by Miss Macdonald. They had treated the survivors with overwhelming kindness that has made them forget what they had been through. "I do not think I shall be returning to England now until after the war," she added, when asked about the future. "One experience of that kind is enough." CLOSE INQUIRIES LEAKAGE OF INFORMATION! t ALL SURVIVORS QUESTIONED Every, survivor who landed at Auckland from the Mariposa yesterday morning was interviewed by the police in an effort to secure information about the German raiders in the Pacific, and particular!} to check the suggestions made in Australia that there was a systematic leakage of information from New Zealand sources So fewer than 27 police officers were taken by launches from the wharf steps to where the ship was anchored in the stream at-seven o'clock. Between then and .10 o'clock each survivor from the Plot ni wood and the Rangitane was closely questioned and a coherent record obtained. Representatives of the Air Force, Navy and Army also wore on board. ALLOWANCES PAID WAR PENSIONS MONEY HOLMWOOD CREW MEMBERS Among the most welcome visitors on the Mariposa yesterday morning, at least as far as members of the crew of the Holm wood were concerned, were representatives of the War Pensions Department, well supplied with money. Acting under the. provisions of the WarPensions and Allowances (Mercantile Marine) Act. 1?M0, which was invoked for the first time, they handed over accumulated allowances to _ the men, adding substantially to the joy of their homecoming. The Holm wood was the first ship on New Zealand articles to fall victim to a raider, and members of her crew, a total of 17 men. thus became eligible for benefits under the Act. which provides for payment of pensions in the eyont <-f den'rh, disablement or detention by xiif• eneniv. Officially presuming that, the-ship's personnel wore detained onboard a raider, the Government had already instructed that detention _ allowances should be paid to the wives and other dependants of the crew. Part of the allowance had been withheld, however, for payment to the men themselves, on their return. Mr. B. F. "inters, assistant secretary of War Pensions:, met the Mariposa in the stream yesterdav mornirm. and with the assistance of Mr. C. Dunn. Auckland registrar of war pensions, and Mr. W. P. Johnston, another departmental officer, arranged for the accumulated sums to to paid to members of the Holmwood s crew before they left the liner. Arrangements were also made to provide for a further period; pending the men being re-engaged in suitable employment.