GOOD SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 102, 27 October 1945, Page 10

GOOD SERVICE

DUTCH SHIP IN WAR

ALCINOUS AND HER OFFICERS

The Netherlands steasmship Alcinous, now idle in Wellington as the result of the. waterside workers refusing to load cargo for the.Netherlands Indies, has not only had an interesting war career herself, but some of her company have taken part iri many important operations. All the officers have relatives in the Indies, and none of the Dutch people on board have seen their homes for six years.

Captain J. H. Jansen, who is in command of the Alcinous, left Holland in August, 1939. He was on the Polydorus, passing Gibraltar, on his way back to Java, when news came of the German, invasion of the Netherlands. The vessel was at once camouflaged and proceeded to Halifax to join.a convoy for England (one of many in which he was to participate). In December, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour and Malaya, Captain Jansen. was on the Australian coast, bound for Singapore, in the Prontis, loaded with aeroplanes and war supplies. He returned to Melbourne for more cargo for the Australian forces then in Malaya and left in January, 1942, in convoy, for Singapore. Captain Jansen arrived there on February 1 after an exciting voyage through the Banka Straits. Japanese aeroplanes were attacking from.such a height that it was impossible to reach them with gun fire, but he brought his precious cargo through cot* ply Two days before Singapore fell he left again with 120 refugees, mostly British, for Batavia. Furthermore, he was able, with the assistance of his officers and crew, to recover most of the fighter planes that had been landed in Singapore, no shore labour being available. Previously the vessel had been discharged with the help, of British and Indian troops. The Prontis made the perilous voyage to Batavia alone, declining escort; Normally the voyage took 40 hours; Captain Jan sen's trip took three days. The Japanese were bombing all the time. The vessel steamed at night only, and during daylight anchored near some small island, covered with greenery, and the refugees were put ashore. For his gallant service on that occasion Captain Jansen was decorated by Queen Wilhelmina with the Distinguished Service Cross. The planes and war material were duly landed at Batavia. but, unfortunately, almost all -the equipment was later captured-by the' Japanese, who I were then pressing in every direction in the Indies. A week later the Prontis was forced to leave Batavia. Captain Jansen then carried the last portion of the gold reserves of the Netherlands Indies Government. There was not even time to count it. The gold was loaded on the vessel by Britishsoldiers. Other portions had been removed by vessels earlier, but it was of vital importance for the future welfare of the territory that the last of the treasure should not fall into the hands of the Japanese. Escorted by British cruisers, the Prontis eventually reached Melbourne in safety. Mr. L. N. Burger, first officer of the Alcinous, joined her at Liverpool in September,* 1942, when she was officially designated one of the British Government's transports. Troops and equipment were taken in her for the beach-head landing near Arzeu, in North Africa. Two other supply voyages to North Africa followed, and she was later prepared in England for the landing in Sicily, the first. assault on which took place in July, 1943. The Alcinous carried Canadian troops, who were landed near Cape Passaro. At the North African landing she carried United States troops. Preparations were then made at Bougie, North Africa, for the Salerno, landing. The vessel carried British troops, also mechanical equipment, including landing barges. First Officer Burger remained on the Alcinous when she resumed her commercial runs to almost every.,part of the world, travelling in convoy again and again across the Atlantic. On one voyage she was torpedoed by a U-boat 300 miles off the west coast of Ireland. The officers and crew managed to subdue the fire that followed, and the vessel eventually reached Glasgow for repairs. The Alcinous has made one previous voyage to New Zealand, when she brought back a party of New Zealand officers. On the return trip she carried supplies, and parcel mail, for the New Zealand Forces in the Middle East. '. . Other officers now serving m the Alcinous who participated in the historic landings in the Mediterranean include Mr. J. Wezel, Chief Engineer, Mr. J. W. van Riemsdyk, electrician, Mr. J. H. Boom and' Mr. Otto Kampman, fourth engineers.