GIRLS' COURAGE

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

GIRLS' COURAGE

TWO YOUNG CHILDREN GAMES WITH GERMANS GIVEN DOLLS AND BOOKS ft . Sound asleep on the Holmwood when she came under the menace of raiders' guns, two little girls, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Idiens, of Chatham Islands, went happily through an ordeal that proved a heavy strain on their parents and other adults, and returned to Audkland yesterday on the Mariposa the picture of youthful health. Te Miria, aged 11, romped gaily with Wendy, aged two, youngest of the raider's prisoners, interrupted her play for a moment to confess that she had learned a few words of German on the Tokyo Maru, and obligingly posed to have her photograph taken.

"They treated the whole thing as a big joke, and are certainly none the worse for their adventures," said Mr. Idiens, who was returning to settle in New Zealand with his wife and family when the Holmwood was intercepted. "I think they actually enjoyed the experience, although the food supply on the Tokyo Maru was not suitable for women or children.

No Harrowing Sights "The kiddies fortunately saw no harrowing sights, although we were aboard a raider when the Rangitane was attacked," he continued. "We were all sent below and shut in when the Rangitane was sunk and, although the children were frightened by the gunfire, they soon forgot it, and settled down to enjoy themselves. "When the Holmwood was stopped, we were first of all taken aboard the Manyo Maru, and on her the children went with their mother, and 1 was with the men passengers. I had access to the children, however, and later, when we were transferred to the Tokyo Maru, we were together.

Possessions Retained "The Germans were kind to the children, and neither of the girls seemed at all afraid. The sailors played games with them, and gave them books and dolls, of which they had a good supply on board." Although they were nil well treated on the two ships on which they had an enforced stay, Mr. ldiens said it had been a trying time for him, particularly since he had his wife and two children with hi in. The Germans' behaviour was respectful, however, and no attempt was made to deprive the passengers of the few possessions they were carrying. Mr. Idiens, for example, had a gold watch and chain, and some money, and was able to retain them throughout. Anxious for Quiet Life

A detailed diary was kept by Mr. Idiens. He consulted it when being interviewed yesterday, and recalled that the morning after the Rangitane had b«en sunk he had heard the raider firing. He was never able, however, to discover whether an aeroplane had been sighted and was being fired upon. While his two children played unconcernedly, forgetful of their life on an enemy raider and of a subsequent stay on a lonely island, Mr. Tdiens confessed that he was thoroughly tired of both raiders and travel. He was anxious, he said, to get to Ohristchurch. settle with his family, and resume the life that had been so rudely interrupted when three German ships closed on the helpless Holm wood between the Chatham Islands and Lvttelton. WOMAN FROM HOLMWOOD LIFE ON GERMAN SHIPS FOOD AND TREATMENT GOOD "A steward told us that we had been stopped by three raiders, but 1 was too seasick to be bothered," said Miss C. K. Hough, of the Chatham Islands, one of the Holmwood passengers who returned by the Mariposa yesterday. Miss Hough, whose parents live at the Chathams, was making her second trip to New Zealand when the raiders caught the Holmwood, and yesterday was delighted to have reached the Dominion after several weeks' unexpected travel.

"1 was taken over in a boat to one of the raiders, and later was joined by the rest of the women and tile children from the Holmwood," Miss Hougli continued. "We did not see the Holmwood sunk, although we heard the gunfire. "We were well treated on board, but at first we had little fresh air, being allowed on deck only two hours a day. The food was very good, however, even if some of the meat we had did probably coille from the Holmwood, which was carrying sheep. In addition, we sometimes had tinned meats, and good bread and butter. "We were taken later to the Tokyo Maru, and had much more freedom on board her. We were allowed on deck freely, being sent down below onl\ when the third ship, which we called the Narvik, was round. On these occasions we were sent, down promptly, and shutters were put up to prevent us seeing her.

"Tin- food on the Tokyo Mara was not as good as on our first vhip, the Manvo Mam," she said. "We often had rice for breakfast, macaroni for dinner in the middle of the day, and two tiny sandwiches, one of white bread and one of black, for tea. "The Germans, some of whom spoke broken English, were mostly fairly young men. They behaved quite wejl toward us during the four weeks we were on the two ships. In that time wo saw land often, but never knew what it was, though the Germans had told us on the first ship that we would he put ashore in three or four weeks' time. ■'All three German ships were together when we were put ashore at Emirau," Miss Hough concluded. "We were sent ashore in ships' boats, provisions were landed, and then Captain H. L. Upton, of the Rangitane, and Captain J. A. Miller, of the Holmwood, took charge." OASE OF MALARIA ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL A member of the crew of the Holmwood, one of the raider vicitnis, Mr. L. Longinn, was ill when the Mariposa arrived yesterday morning. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital suffering from malaria.