NO THREAT OF MUTINY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 264, 8 November 1945, Page 5

NO THREAT OF MUTINY

MR. CHIPLEY’S DENIAL Canberra, Nov. 7. The Prime Minister, Mr. Chiflcy. denied that there had ever been any threat of mutiny from the 1400 Indonesians who wore taken my the Esperance Bay from Australia to Batavia. The escorting destroyer Arunta had never been called for by the master of the Esperance Bay. Mr. Chiflcy issued this statement after two long conferences yesterday afternoon and night with the actingMinister of External A (Hairs. Mr. Makin, and officials of the department. If the Indonesians had taken arms aboard, the arms were with their baggage in a hold to which they did not have access, he added. Tin warranted criticism and irresponsible statements had obscured the objective which the Australian Government had achieved —the transfer of Indonesians out of Anstral’a to their own territory. “A difficult movement has now been completed successfully, without incident.” he said. “T have been kept informed regard’ng the movement from the outset. At no stage was there any danger either to the shin or Allied personnel, ns all necessary had been taken. There was no evi-

England. for what went, on in the minds and thought - of a serviceman overseas was not something’ that could be got out of a book.