LOSS OF THE WIMMERA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16261, 11 July 1918, Page 6

LOSS OF THE WIMMERA.

A SURVIVOR'S VIEWS

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyiigktj

(Received July 11th, 9 p.m.)

SYDNEY, July 10.

Mr W. F. Sodgebeer, ono of the sop. vivors of the Wimmera, in an interview given to Press representatives, express ed tho opinion that only persons having' legitimate business should be allowed to travel either on the Australian coasb or across the Pacific in war time. On his trip, ho said, both to New Zealand and returning to Australia, tho majority of tho saloon passengers were old men, women, and children. Quito a number of passengers, he said, were going to New Zealand to see whether Desert Gold or Biplano was the faster animal. Mr Sedgoueer considered that it is little short of scandalous that persons who are unable to look after themselves in the ©vent of an accident should bo allowed to travel by sea when their only object is pleasure. In view of his experiences on the Wimmera, Mr Sodgebeer suggests all exits from ships should be lighted, similar to those from theatres, as under existing conditions as soon as the en-gine-room is flooded a ship is thrown into darkness; also that as soon as a vessel reaches her destination the lifeboats should be thoroughly overhauled.: Sir Sodgebeer alleges that the boat he had to tako to when tho accident happened carried no chooolato, and the water was very brackish. Valuabletime, he states, was lost in knocking the wooden covers from the lifeboats. He always understood that the covers had to be removed as soon as a shin sailed. v

Mr Sedgobeer mnkos a complaint in respect to the treatment the passengers received in Auckland at tho hands of the officials.

INDIGNATION AGAINST THE METHODS OF THE HUN. >

(FBOM OCTI OWN COnRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, July Tho distressing loss of life which - ": attended the destruction of the steamer } Wimmora caused a most painful shock' in Sydney, which was the homo of the majority of tho persons concerned, and this took the form of an outburst, of indignation against the methods of the Hun.

I' The officials of the Seamen's Union I wore particularly outspoken. "There. will not be a foreigner aboard a British vessel, even after peaco is d»\V clared, if wo can prevent it," Baid on<*, of the leaders whoso thoughts, as was I' tho case with most of hiß fellows, fan.' immediately in the direction of re« « prisnls. "We are sound in our minntion that Germanism shall -no have a footing here. You have all:.-"; heard Mr Havelock Wilson nnd hiijj views on the Huns. Well, the Sydney seamen think ho is a gi'and old i.,and wo would be.a lot of Hkunks if,ye;£ did not endorse his views. We nnisti?; be aware of the snake in the grass, the very sort of snake that sowed poisonouß seeds in Russia. That of snake, of which there are too man/ in Australia, takes tho form of paci- ■/. fism, and to kill it must bo ths> aisa;j| of every patriotic Australian. It musi ; | be trampled out." * *1 The secrotary of the Marine wards and Pantrymen's Union, com«|| monting on the Wimmcra sinking, saidl<| "War or no war, we have a big sectidq|l of our members who will never aga»ff;« work with Germans. We hope tnnt,';g after the war, measures will be takers| by the proper authorities to OTeVfiq®® Huns finding employment on "BritishS ships." .The secrotary of the Ferry and Tus-J| boats Employees' Union, on tho same® subject, said: "After the war, eneinjs| subjects should not be employed .* oiia| our ships. - There is plenty of British;?! labour available. British interests®?! should bo safeguarded by British martr|f time labour at all times. , Nearly #]l|| tlie I.W;.W. men are aliens by birth or'* adoption."