GERMAN SHIP’S FLIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20053, 27 September 1939, Page 12

GERMAN SHIP’S FLIGHT

REFUGE IN JAVA PASSENGER’S STORY SHORTAGE OF FOOD SYDNEY, Sept. 15. The voyage of the German steamer Stasslurt from Port Phillip Bay to at neutral port in Java, during which there was a shortage of food and water, was described yesterday by Mr. I-I. L. Barton, steel merchant, the only British passenger.

Mr. Barton, who has returned to Sydney by air, said that there was a Nazi political officer in the Stassfurt, and no member of the crew dared to discuss the situation with the passengers. The plight of 11 Jewish passengers, now stranded in Java, was serious, because they had little money.

“The Stassfurt sailed from Port] Pine, where it had loaded 3000 tons of lead, for Melbourne, on August 23," said Mr, Barton. “Arrangements had been made by the captain to pick up the pilot outside Port Phillip Bay at 2 a.m. on August 25. I was in my bunk by about midnight on the night before. The engines were suddenly stopped, and when I looked at my watch it was a.m. I looked through the porthole and saw the lights of QueensclifT through the Heads. I thought that it would be only a few hours before we would be tied up beside the wharf—-I had no inkling of the discussions that must have been going on among the officers on the bridge. Miles From Land “I woke up in the morning with the intention of going ashore, but I felt the movement of the ship. When I looked through the porthole we were miles from land. 1 walked to the deck and saw the crew busily engaged in repainting the ship. It took the men all day to complete this work. Meanwhile we were heading south into lough weather and stormy seas. I was informed by a friendly member of the crew that a course had been laid for Chile, by way of the Bluff.

“After steaming for a day on this course,” added Mr. Barton, “the ship was swung around. It doubled back on its track. I could secure no information from the crew. A German told me that there was a Nazi political representative aboard, and that he dared not talk. During the nights we listened in to broadcasts from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide. Perth, London, and Berlin. I heard announcements from the Australian stations that the Stassfurt was missing. The Jews translated for me the news broadcasts from Berlin. I, heard Mr. Chamberlain’s broadcast about .the declaration of war from London. The •ship afterwards continued to plough through the sea at night without any lights.

Water And Food Rationed

“When we were about a. week out. water and food were rationed. The officers treated the passengers well. They dined with us and shared food and water equally. I then heard a whisper that fuel was running short. Soon afterwards we sighted the coast of Java. The ship steamed info Tjilatjap. There was little fuel left. As .soon as it arrived it was boarded by the Dutch authorities. Because I was travelling on a British passport which provided for Java, I was allowed ashore within 24 hours, but ( the other passengers were detained