THREE STRIKERS SHOT

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12291, 10 November 1925, Page 7

THREE STRIKERS SHOT

DESPERATE BATTLE ON SHIP OFFICERS USE THEIR REVOLVERS RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright BRISBANE, November 9 The deck- of the I’ort Yi<;tor was the scene of a miniature lati-.* when it was raided by a party of strikers from the steamers Bgrrabool, Port Sydney, and Port Auckland. The raiders were not dispersed until three of them were wounded by revqlver shots by a ship’s officer. The hostilities began when several seamen, on reaching the top of the gangway, knocked down the quartermaster. A party of 40 others climbed over the side to the deck, stripped the small booby hatches, and used the timber as batons. They also carried iron bars. , The raiders invaded the forecastle "head, where a number of seamen were sleeping. With batons, iron bars, and legs wrenched from a table in the forecastle, the raiders took a heavy toll of the sleeping seamen, who could only defend themselves with their bare fists. Things were very ugly when the chief officer appeared brandishing a revolver. The raiders quickly fled over the side. In the ineantiiae a desperate fight was being waged on the gangway. An officer drew a revolver and fired, dropping one of the strikers. Two more I shots were fired, and two of the in- ' vaders were injured. i The police in the meantime arrived, and three of the raiders were removed to hospital, suffering from bullet wounds. The casualties on the Port Victor totalled 12, but hone are, serious. Later the second wireless operator of the Port Victor was arrested and charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm. - “STRIKE EVERY TIME” “TEAR UP EVERY AGREEMENT” DESPAIRING LEADER’S ADVICE. By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright: MELBOURNE, November 9. . The president off the oversea seamen’s strike addressing a meeting in support of the' strikers, bitterly attacked the waterside workers and the West Australian Government; He said that: if the strike collapsed it would be through two causes, the West Australian Labour Ministry and the Waterside Workers’ Federation. He added that the f seamen were going to -carry on the fight until driven hack by starvation. If the strike committee were financial when the ships from Fremantle arrived in Melbourne, they would pull the crews out again. If the occasion arose,' seamen must be prepared to strike every time, and tear np every agreement, whether it was made in the Arbitration Court or not. SHIPS MOVING AT LAST * *siUks Of/sTRIKE’S collapse. Bv Telegraph.—Preßa Assn.—Copyright • ADELAIDE, November 9: The strike is collapsing in South Australia. A party} of the crew of the steamer Westmorland, released' from gaol,' were conveyed straight to the ship. \ 1 V , A number of strikers have also returned' to the Balranald. MELBOURNE, November 9. Manned by scratch crews, three oversea steamers arrived ’ from Australian ports during the week-end. FIREMEN STILL HOLDING OUT (Received November 9, 8.15 < p.m,) SYDNEY, November 9. Following the return to the steamer Aeneas of practically,, all those of ! her crew who were on strike, all the men from the Beltana and the Themistocles have also rejoined. __The majority of the men returning are seamen: the firemen are still holding out, and returning in small groups, compared with the seamen, . The Orient liner Orvieto will, not sail till February, when, Bhe will take her usual place in the time-table.

MEN SHOULD BE TOLD PLAINLY (Received November 9, 8.16 p.m.) v MELBOURNE, November 9. Mr Turley, president of the. Waterside Workers’ Federation, declares that it is the duty of, the officials of the Seamen's Union leading the strike to tell the men plainly that they should return to work. “ :