WARSHIP CAPTAIN HOOTED

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1930, Page 10

WARSHIP CAPTAIN HOOTED

TROUBLE ON H.M.S. REVENGE. ■SEAMEN OVERSTAY LEAVE. ■Messages’ from Nice have reported stories of serious trouble in H.M. battleship Revenge, which was lying at Golfe Juan, near Nice. The Admiralty issued a statement on the matter.

The crew of the Revenge, says tho Daily Mail, complained of poor food and severe disciplinary measures taken on board the ship. On the previous Saturday part of the crew obtained shore leave, and when they arrived at Nice, it was reported, they refused to resume their duties on board and stayed over Sunday. > On Saturday night Captain J. A. G. Troup went ashore, and was hissed by more than 100 men who were on leave. Captain Troup posted two men as deserters and gave their photographs to the French police, requesting that they Should be arrested. Forty men, it was declared, were detained in the ship’s prison. Vice-Admiral Kelly, commanding the First Battle Squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet, held an inquiry bn board the battleship. The Revenge is Admiral Kelly’s flagship. One of the naval ratings said this evening that he had overstayed his leave and did not intend to return until seven days were up. He intended to return then, otherwise he would be marked us a deserter.

Asked what punishment he expected to receive, he replied: “It is all the same Whether yoil are \half au hour late or seven days.” ' The Admiralty issued the following statement as 1.30 in the mornings—- “ Tile reports concerning the ship’s company of the Revenge are most in J accurate. - ... /

“During the whole course of the Revenge’s stay at Nice, from September 25 to October 8, an average of 349 men had been landed daily for leave. The total number of leave-breakers has been 35, of whom, only two have not returned on board. “Although, this amount of leavebreaking is unusual, it is not considered sufficient io deserve the emphasis of publication. “Apart from these two deserters there have been no cases of refusal to return on board, and out bf the 35 who broke their leave quite half were not . bsent for more than three hours.”

Messages from Nice the following nig'ht showed that the trouble in the battleship Revenge, caused by men overstaying their shore leave, had subsided, and. most of the men had returned to their ship. The. Admiralty stated that two have deserted.

The trouble aboard the Revenge began from the time, before the ship arrived off' Golife. Juan, when all the ship’s company were mustered and informed tliat no rating who had received punishment since last April would be granted leave on the Riviera.

At about 6 o’clock on the previous Saturday, Captain J. A. G. Troup left th© ship in plain clothes. When he arrived on the Golfe Juan seafront, which is lined with cheap cafes, his appearance was greeted by one or two of the crew with -cat-cajls. In an. instant nearly alb the naval ratings drinking at the cafes joined in, and, as he strolled along the front, the cries followed him. / . . ■ , _■ Following this demonstration many of the lower, ratings decided not to return to the ship that, night, and large numbers went to Nice. 'x , "

Forty who returned on Sunday night were placed in the ship’s cells. Another detachment of leave-breakers returned at about 6.30 on Monday morning, most of them being, intoxicated,'while others remained scattered about the various Riviera towns. According to naval law, overstaying leave is not a very serious offence, but it appears that the men thought that Captain Troup failed to discriminate, in his punishment awards-, and treated ail offences alike with maximum penalties. A ■

On Monday two men who had been absent more than seven days were posted as deserters, and their photographs handed to the French police with orders for their arrest. These men had not been found. . On Monday morning two men left tae ship without permission, thus being absent without leave, saying that they were “going ashore for a feed.” These men had. not returned. . . There are still about 15 men roaming about Nice who overstayed their leave. They said they will not return to the ship until she is ready to sail, as they would receive the same punishment for being an hour .late in returning as they would for seven days. The Cases of leave-breaking were confined to Id wer ratings. The Nice police were not called on to act in the matter, the warrants for the arrest of the deserters having been handed to the special police (according to a Reuter message).