ARBITRARY ACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26227, 10 August 1946, Page 7

ARBITRARY ACTION

REMOVAL OF TOW ROPES DISPUTE ON DERELICT SHIP ' * BRITISH ORDERED OFF LONDON, Aug. 8. Dscribing the seizure of the American Farmer by the American Ranger's crew. John Edward Millers, captain of the Elizabeth, said: “I shouted to the Ranger's chief officer: ‘You’re not allowed to cpme aboard.’ He replied: ‘ Don’t you” want help? ’ Meantime some Americans scrambled aboard; we could not stop them. “ Later the Ranger’s chief returned and shouted, ‘l’ve orders from Washington to start the engines.’ The Americans cut down the flag and the Ranger’s chief officer handed it back to me saying: ‘Here’s your flag: now into your boat and go to your ship.’ ” Members of the Elizabeth’s crew said the American boarding party hacked away the two tow ropes despite Millers’s vigorous protests, and it was only under great pressure that Captain Millers abandoned the ship. Captain Oscar Johnson, master of the American Ranger, stated at Falmouth that there v»s no trouble or violence when his men boarded the American Farmer; that the flag was not struck until he was ready to proceed with the ship—six hours after the chief engineer boarded to get the engines running upon orders from D. A. Smyths, representative of the United States Line. He added: "The flag was taken down correctly, and folded properly.” Captain Johnson expressed the opinion that the Elizabeth could never have brought the ship to port. “That is why I bfiarded her. I talked with the master of the Elizabeth and told him merely that I wanted to take the ship. He refused.” Johnson said the Elizabeth had only four mooring lines, not towing lines, which were cut with a knife by the acting bosun. Johnson added thej he was satisfied after 22 hours that the British ship was making no progress. “My propellers never moved for 22 hours, and the ship was stili in the same position.” The United States Line’s legal ad 7 viser said a writ had been issued by the Ministry of Transport against the owners of the American Farmer for salvage. __