HOW THE HAURAKI WAS CAPTURED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 225, 22 September 1945, Page 5

HOW THE HAURAKI WAS CAPTURED

SEIZED BY JAPS IN INDIAN OCEAN I SECOND OFFICERS STORY iiP.A.) Auckland, Sept. 21. i The first complete details ot the capture ot the Union Steam Ship Co. s Imotor ship Hauraki by the Japanese |in the Indian Ocean in 1942 were given to-night by Mr. A. F. Mclntyre, who was the second officer on the vessel, when he arrived at Auckland by air from Singapore, with eight other members of the ship’s company. Of three years in internment camps in Singapore, he spent most ot the time in digging tunnels and clearing jungle areas. He is a son of Captain O. F. Mclntyre, harbourmaster at New Plymouth.

I 'The Hauraki, a 7113 ton cargo and passenger vessel, was on her way ‘across the Indian Ocean with a cargo | of stores from Australia for the force.-, [in the Middle East, when, at about 10 o’clock on the night of July 12, she I was intercepted by two armed merIchant cruisers. The officers and crew [numbered about 55 men, most of [ whom were New Zealanders, and ' there were eight passengers. The Japanese ships closed in on the Hauraki, said Mr. Mclntyre, and ordered the ship to heave to. A prize crew was put aboard, and the master, Captain Creese, of Melbourne, was ordered off the bridge. The ship then travelled under escort to Penang. Severe interrogation awaited Captain Creese and Mr. Mclntyre when they arrived at Penang. They were I asked to give information concerning [the courses steered and other details of naval interest. They were warned that they would be shot if they did (not answer the questions. The "grillling” went on for several hours, and [the two men were eventually released Iwithout having given information.. After a week in Penang, the Hauraki, with all her officers and crew aboard, sailed for Singapore. On arrival there the members of the ship's company refused to take the vessel any further unless sufficient lifeboat gear was provided. As a result 32 of the company, including Mr. Mclntyre, were put ashore and thrown into Changi gaol. From that time he saw nothing further of the captain or the chief officers, and had heard nothing of them since.

Mr. Mclntyre was Interned at Changi Camp until May of last year, when he was transferred to the Sime Road camp. He remained there until the Japanese surrendered last month. Mr. Mclntyre was unwilling to discuss the atrocities committed by the Japanese camp guards. He stated that very few were carried out in Sime Road camp itself, but. there were plenty of cases where internees had been beaten and slapped outside the camp. Once, when he was on fatigue duty in the women's section of the camp, he saw six women who were made to kneel in front of the Japanese guard for several hours [because they failed to bow to hint each time. One lost her balance an.l s’he was struck with a heavy stick. At the end of the ordeal they were too exhausted to stand up.