VESSEL REACHES PORT

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1946, Page 5

VESSEL REACHES PORT

Pr,ess Assn-

^ .End To Salvage Race

captains' st0ries of seizure

By Telegraph

Copyright

Reeeived Friday, 10.3Q a.m. LONDON, Aug. 8. The American • Farmgr entered Falmouth harb.our after batfling against a heavy swell. She feqched port under her own 'steam but two tugs towed her^ through the narrow channel into the harbour. Describing the seizqre of the American Farm'er by the Anierican Ranger's crew, Jqhn Edward Miliers, eaptain of the Elizabeth said: T shouted to the Ranger's ehief nfficer, 'you're.not allowed to come iboard.' He, replied, 'Don't you want help.' Meantime some Amerieans scrambled aboard. We muldn't stop them. Later the Ranger's ehief returned and ihouted, T've orders from Washingtqn to start the engines.' The Americans cut down the flag and the Ranger's ehief officer handed it back to me, saying, 'Here's your Hag. Now into your boat and go to your ship'." Members of the Elizabeth's crew said that the American boarding party hacked away the two tow ropes, despite Captain Millers' vigorous protests, and it was only under great pressure that Captain Millers abandoned the ship. Captain Oscar Johnson, master )f the American Ranger, stated at Talmouth that there was no 'trouble or violence when the men boarded the American Farmer, and that the flag was not struck until he was ready to proceed with ship — six hours after the ehief engineer boarded her to get the engines running upon orders from Mr. D. A. Smythe, repfesentative of United States Lines. He added: ;"The flag was taken down correcbly and folded properly." j Captain Johnson expressed ths 1 opinion that the Elizabeth could j never have brought the ship to Iport. "That is why I boarded her. ji talked with the master of the ! Elizabeth and told him I merelv jwanted to take the ship. He refused." j Captain Johnson said the Elizajbeth only had four mooring lines, I not ' towing lines, which had been cut with a knife by Acting Bosun Johnson. He added that he was satisfied after twenty-two hours that the British ship was making 110 progress. "My propellors were never moved for twenty-two hours, and the ship was still in the same position." United States hines' legal adviser said a writ had been issued by the Ministry of Transport against the owners of the American Farmer for the salvage.