TROUBLE ON A TRANSPORT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 29, 29 October 1919, Page 7

TROUBLE ON A TRANSPORT

: • SENSATIONAL ALLEGATIONS. Sensational disclosures were made by munition workers who returned to Melbourne by the steamer JBahia Castillo (states t.lie "Age''). The passengers numbered about 600, iind of the score of returned men who were interviewed not one had a kindly word te say about the trip. The common opinion was that it was "a hell upon sea." The story surrounding Ihe experiences of those aboard, and of the adventures of the vessel, comnicaees soon after the steamer left Plymouth. According to the statements of a member of the committee of munition workers, right from the outset tliere was iroublo. The steamer's hygienic appointments were far below requirements, cooking utensils were '.imited, and there was wholesale unsavoriness about the accommodation, which, too, was altogether inadequate. Anticipations of anything but a pieassmt voyage were soon realised. The militant spirit of stewards and firemen showed itself early, and fights were common. Somowomenfolk refused to venture out; until pacified by husbands and friends. The meat, according to the men, was positively rank, and the bread was mere s-.ddened slicfc of flour and water. Protestations against the continuance of such meals were quietly made wben the vessel was a few days out, and there came the somewhat consu'ing response from tl;o.=e in charge that the food would be 'better when tho steamer reached Poiifcli Africa. The munition workers depended on the promise being fulfilled, ■nid they submitted to "stomachic torlures"—as one man ohrased it—in the hope of relief when the alluring port of Durban was reached. A vivid picture of conditions , aboard in thr- meantime was painted by the worker interviewed. Women, he said, became ill. and children began to look em/iew-tal. !\ot long after leaving England a row occurred between stewards and firemen. One man was, the informant averred, kiciked to death, and his asst.ilant got five years' imprisonment! These happenings aggravated the nerves of overyone. and tlie roughness of the sea added to tho burden of d ; sconifort For three davs before reaching Soulh Africa many of those on board submitted to partial starvation rather than suffer the physical' ailment* that indilTerejif: fowl brought on. Even the best tempers were strainecl, and grievances became general. The captain was appealed to. but. according to tlie story, his reply was s'.mplv :t re-echo— "Wait till we get to South Africa,". Durban was reached in due course, with a sigh of relief. Passengers felicitated each other on the prospects of their hope', and in some instances dreams, being realised. Soon after leaving South Africa the steamer had its own nautical troubles. Three times it broke down, and returns to port were made. Owing to these misadventures the committee, in it? wisdom, decided, not to make any complaints at the lime, although there were plenty of grounds for them. Tho steamer having been nindc seaworthy, the voyage recommenced. It was. however, with feelings of keen disappointment that those on board realised that the authorities had overlooked their claims for better food. If anything, the munition worker stated, the meat wn« ranker, the cabbage more rotten, and the potatoes blacker then before. What aggravated the pa ; sem:ers perilous more than anything was Ihe knowledge, gained through a casiwl peep iiito the mens roam, that the officers were dining on luxuries—the best of meats, fruit's, nnd blanc manges. Again, the captain was appealed to by Hie now enraged passengers, and (according to the men interviewed! lie replied that if they got him the cooks he would give them the meals. There was. according to the men, nothing on shipboard approaching mutinv. It was at Durban that the captain told the passengers that: a military guard was to be placed on board. This set the temper of the passengers on edge, and they resolutely declined to recognise tlie guard in the circumstances. The captain's will, however, was 'supreme. The soldiers comnrisin? the guard, it is stated, sat down to good meals, but the passengers had to submit to bitllv Wf. Hnrdlv a dn.v on th" trip to Western Au<Hrali" passed without incident. On reaching Fremantle manv pa.s-'°»gers hurried oil' te swe eatables.. They were inform"! that the 'bn'it wou'd not N> leaving- till noon oil that particular day. To their drgrin, however,: they learned that it had left six hours- earlier. There had been so m"eh fighting on board that 'he wornonfolk were pleased tn leave the ship for the tin'" being. The whole Fremantle affair, it 1 was stated, was simply due to a misunderstanding as to what time the vessel would b» Reaving for Melbourne. It was slated from another source that, while passengers were off the steamer at Fremantle.. wholesale lootin" of tlie luggag" took place. About -081)1) is set down as the value of the articles and goods stolen.