MORETON BAY SAILS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 268, 13 November 1945, Page 5

MORETON BAY SAILS

TEN OF CREW WALK OFF DUTCH TROOPS ABOARD IN HAPPY MOOD Recd. 12.51 a.m. Sydney, Nov. 12. With 10 of her crew left Dehind, tne liner Moreton Bay sailed for Java tonight with 1600 Dutch troops aboard. They lined the after-decks, cheering and singing as the ship moved away from her berth at 5.10 p.m. She did not clear the heads until 7.30 p.m. About 40 members of the crew of 220 attended a meeting outside the wharf an hour before the ship sailed. They were told that no cabled advice had been received from the National Union of Seamen in London. The union had been asked to advise whether the crew should take the ship to Java with j*jtch troops aboardThe men argued among themselves for rome time. Communist supporters advised them to leave the ship. Finally, the seamen returned to the Moreton Hay. Later, ten of the crew walked off with their sea bags and suit cases. They were taken uW in cars.

The commander of the Moreton Bay, Captain E. T. Grayson, had said the crew must be prepared to sail at 5 o’clock. Precisely at that time two tugs drew alongside the liner and towlines were taken on gangplank removed. Shortly before five p.m. a large number of police gathered at the wharf gates, but there were no disturbances.

CROWD HOOTS DUTCH TROOPS IN SYDNEY

Recd. 6 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 12 Late yesterday, 2000 men and women who had attended a Communist meeting in the domain demonstrated against Dutch troops on the line;- Moreton Bay. There were no incidents similar to those on Wednesday, when the soldiers provoked by demonstrators, threw bottles from the Stirling Castle and turned the ships' hoses on a crowd of Communists and others who were abusing them irom the wharf. Yestreday’s crowd was not allowed near the ships. The mob crowded foreshores overlooking the Moreton Bay and hooted the Dutch troops. The troops stood at attention and sang "God Save The King," while the demonstrators shouted, "Hands off the