N.Z. WOOL CARGO FOR SOVIET IN U.S. LIBERTY SHIP

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1948, Page 5

N.Z. WOOL CARGO FOR SOVIET IN U.S. LIBERTY SHIP

Crew Dislike Trip, Fearing Eventual War

P.A. WELLINGTON, April 12 An American Liberty ship, the Edward R. Squibb, arrived in Wellington on Sunday from Yokohama. She is to start the loading of a cargo of 12,000 bales of New Zealand wool, for Russia, to-morrow. She specially been diverted from Yokohama to Seattle. She will load half of her cargo in Wellington and Lyttelton. She is to complete loading in Melbourne. The cargo is for Odessa. Her chief mate. Mr G. G. Levich, said that the first warning of the ship’s new loading itinerary came as a complete surprise to the crew. ‘“This ship is a tramp steamer,” he continued. “We go anywhere, but not many of the crew are looking forward to the trip to Russia.” This sentiment was echoed by another member xpf the crew. He said that he did not wish to give his name, as he wishes to return from Odessa. This member said: “This voyoage does not appeal to many of us aboard. Before the last war, we used to ship scrap iron to Japan, and this shipping of wool to Russia strikes us, now as the same sort of thing. The popular belief in the United States is that Russia will be our next enemy- so why supply her troops with material for uniforms and blankets, From what we have seen of the U.S.S.R., it appears most unlikely that this wool — the finest in the world for uniforms—will be made up for Russian civilians. We think that we will be at. war with Russia sooner or later, so why. supply them now?”

The “Edward R. Squibb” is owned by the United States Government, and she is operating by the Burns Steamship Company, of Los /uigeles.