HERDED AS ANIMALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1924, Page 1

HERDED AS ANIMALS.

MEN AND WOAIEX TOGETHER. CONDITIONS OF SIXTY YEARS AGO. PERTH. July 28. Conditions under which passengers travelled in the had old days of the Atlantic packet- ‘‘tats’’ were recalled when the Italian steamer Aloncalieri arrived here (telegraphed the Perth correspondent of the Sydney “Cuv.rdinti”). In a former forecastle double-decker, iron berths were fastened together in long rows against tlie sides and down the centre. Jn if 4ft women and children have existed on the way out. It seems incredible, hut throughout the voyage a male steward has slept in this cabin under orders. He was only screened from the view of the the women and children hv a lliutsy rag scieen round his top berth. The women complained that officers and members of tlie crew used to stroll through this cabin at all hours of the day and night, and that privacy was non-existent. WOMEN IN DESHABILLE. Win’ll a passenger took a '‘Guardian” representative to the door of the cabin women were in various states of undress, and a number of men were talking to them.

En route, the passengers received two meals a. day. One at 9.J0 was a diet- of hard-tar k biscuit and a cup of coffee, and the other at J.Jft consisting of macaroni. Tlie majority of the male passengers and a- sprinkling of women wore accommodated between decks on top of the hatch covers, and round the sides.

John Solosv, an Englishman, with his wife and child, are aboard. Solosv says lie wired the company’s office from Port Said to arrange a pa-sage in a separate enliin. ENGLI.SH.MAN FARES BADLY.

For the piivilege he paid J'-'O!) lives (about £!)“!, and when he got aboard alter the vessel sailed his wife and child were put into the common tahiu referred to. Solosv strongly urges that if the Federal authorities have the power they should impure into the death of a young woman during the passage. She was the mother if two young children, and was g< ing to join her husband in Brisbane. UNCLE SAAI’S CAST-OFFS.

Passengers expected a big ru-li of Greek. Italian, and Jngo-Slav migration to Australia, since America bad closed its doors to them. They stated il was impossible now for indigent Italians to come out. as a migration committee made certain they were going to work either with relatives or friends before they were allowed to leave.

“BIG BERTHA” DANGER. PARIS. June il. "Recent technical progress in the arts of warfare places London under the permanent menace of destruction by aerial bombardment and by German long-range guns.” This is the warning in an article in the Revue ile Fra nee by a distinguished French ordnance export, M. I’. Bourgoin. one of the senior engineers of the Naval Artillery Reserve. A renewed German offensive which fell far short of the German success in I!.'] ! would he iplite sufficient, lie points out, to bring Louden neder the I 1 re of ■ Big Berih-.'*." The arc of a circle with a radius of 12u miles based on London as it- centre would comprise, he argues, the area from within which London could he bombard, -ll hv a perfected longrange gun. This would include (’ape Gri—Xez, opposite Dung, ’in—s. which is only 78] miles in a direct line from London, and the whole of the French and Belgian coast between Dieppe and Nieiipo rt. Another danger for Britain is seen liv M. Bourgoin ill tlie form of large submarines capable of carrying aeroplanes. The submarine's range of vision would not lie limited as it has been and the chances ol a successful blockade ol British ports would bo inon ’used.