DUTCH MUTINY.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18876, 21 February 1933, Page 5

DUTCH MUTINY.

SEVEN PROVINCES CASE. OFFICIAL STATEMENT MADE. STORY OF THE REVOLT, United Press Assn Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Reoelved Feb. 21, 10 a.m.) BATAVIA, Feb. 20. The story of the mutiny of tho training ship Seven Provinces was the subject of an official statement by the Dutch Navy Commander, Vice-Admiral Osten, of which the following are extracts :

“The plot was concocted by the natives and a number of European ratings. The mutineers equipped themselves with rifles and ammunition. Two officers were taken from their beds and held as hostages while loyal European petty officers and ratings were locked up. Theso attempted several times by persuasion and also by force to get control of tho situation, but were compelled to assume a defensive attitude when convinced that defeat was certain by the superior numbers of the mutineers, who were fully armed. They also feared that as hostages they might be murdered. “Neither officers nor petty officers did any duty during the mutiny. Repeated warnings by the officers with regard to the serious consequences of the mutiny went unheeded. The mutineers kept open the forward armoury, having machine guns and hand grenades at their immediate disposal, and also two forward guns fully loaded and trained on the poop.

“During the whole time the mutineers flew the Dutch flag, and never the red flag. The customary flag salute took place every morning and evening. “Panic occurred when the bomb fell on tho ship. The guards threw away their rifles and the resistance was immediately broken.”