ON RAIDER WOLF

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1920, Page 3

ON RAIDER WOLF

SYDNEY -MAN’S EXPERIENCES.

Among the passengers who anived at Sydney by the Ostcrloy was Mr B. R. Benson, of Aslifielcf, New South Wales, who had the unenviable experience of travelling round the world in the German raider Wolf, In 1917 ho and his wife were travelling from China to Colombo in the Japanese steamer Hitachi Marti, when the Wolf ranged alongside. The whole of the passengers, coal, and valuables were transferred, and the steamer was sunk. All hands were transferred later to the Spanish steamer Egoist Mendi, \\hielt followed the ra'idpr.' “While on the Wolf and the other steamer.” said Mr Benson, ue ue:c stopped several times by Britisli and Japanese warships, but the disguise ol the Wolf was a masterpiece, and no suspicions were raised, “Strange, to say, none, .if the warships sent a hoarding party across to us. Had this been done, our plight would assur-

edly have been discovered, lor wo were locked in our cabins. One warship which stopped us was the llampshite. Mr Benson has travelled a great deal in Russia, and in 1917 was lit Irkutsk, in Siberia, when the first signs of the Russian revolution were noticed. He said that be did nof, think Lie revolution was as bad as had been made out. ‘•To my mind,” continued Mr Benson, “if Great Britain were to leave. Russia alone and look after our interests in the Far East, more material advantage would he gained, for unless intervention is made Japan will have wluilo. of Eastern Siberia

and Manchuria, including the, railway right up to Tobolsk. This would be a • menace to the future peace of Europe. “1 do not think Japan lias any de- - signs on Australia, as is the popular supposition, because the Japanese, as a general r\il»-.,does not care to get tfi« fur away from his home land to live per--1 manoutiy. The main idea of Japanese a development seems to he centred on :1 Vladivostok, Eastern Siberia, Korea, i- and Manchuria.” Mr Benson was asked whether he con-

sidered Boslhevism a menace to the peace pi Europe. “No,” he replied. “It is only the attempt of political negrades to gain power. Half of the peasant population of Russia does not know what the fighting is for. M. Kerensky, when lie assumed power, made the grave mistake of throwing open the borders, and, as a result, political refugees from all parts of the world . have hastened back .to Russia. On realising bis mistake he closed the borders .again, with the result that hundreds and thousands w.ere held up in Korea. “Japan protested and threatened to take action unless Al. Kerensky again threw open the borders and allow**! these people entrance to Russia. This action caused the downfall of Kerensky.”