MUTINY THREATS TO CAPTAIN ,

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1934, Page 15 (Supplement)

MUTINY THREATS TO CAPTAIN ,

Communist Agitator Affects Greek Crew SHIP IS MET BY POLICE AT BRITISH PORT A REMARKABLE story of Communist intrigue and how a captain was forced to submit to the fantastic demands of a section of his crew which threatened him with mutiny, was revealed at Brixham, Devon, after dramatic incidents aboard the steamer Mount Ossa; Soon after the vessel had dropped anchor a tug carrying a score of police went to meet her. The police, with Home Office officials and representatives of Messrs Rethymnis and Kulukundis, Ltd., agents in Great Britain for Atlanticos Steamship Company, Ltd., Athens, went aboard. After several hours the tug returned with 14 Greek seamen, who were later transferred to a motorcoach and conveyed to Southampton. Mr G. Kulukundis, a representative of the agents, told a “Daily Mail reporter:' . “Two months ago at Buenos Aires, the crew was addressed by a Communist agitator. “As a direct result of his agitation, part of the crew of the Mount Ossa, mutinied. “They demanded to be paid at similar rates to the British seamen on board. This was agreed. “Next they demanded extra food and unlimited supplies of fruit, and finally they insisted that the captain should sanction the formation of a ‘committee’ of five sailors with power to criticise his orders and to condemn them. . “They told Captain Manessis that if he opposed such a committee there would be violence. “The captain wirelessed a message to the owners of the ship at Athens as a result of which 14 men were sent to Brixham in time to take the place of the crew which was taken off.” The Mount Ossa, a vessel of 5201. tons, is registered at Panama. The owners are Messrs J. Cosmetto and Kulukundis Bros.