JERVIS BAY ARRIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1928, Page 2

JERVIS BAY ARRIVES

Australian. Press Assn.—United Service (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). LONDON, July 17. The Jervis Bay has docked at Southampton. Passengers’ stories are a recapitulation of the Colombo narratives already published, but the passengers insisted that the captain was fully justified in sending wireless messages, “as tilings looked fairly bad for a time.” A majority of them say they "saw nothing of the occurrences. ROME, July 17.

The “G lorn ale Do Italia” further says:—“AA’e understand and respect the. grief of the Swedish nation at the loss of Malmgreni, but Sweden should respect Italy’s grief , at the loss of the Italia, and pride in the smiling heroism of Biage, the legendary audacity of Sora and sacrifice of Zappi and Mariano. Their version of the tragic farewell to their comrades must ho accepted as the world accepts the story of Scott.”

JERVIS BAY OPINIONS. (Received tins day at 9.30 a.m.A LONDON, July 17. Though interest in the Jervis Bay virtually evaporated at Colombo, with the sentencing of the stowaways, the newspapers at the moment arc turning out long interviews. These are a recapitulation of the thread-bare story though presented from different angles, according to sympathies. One instance is a woman giving the initials, L.R.. who offered the opinion that it was disgraceful of the captain to hose the poor stowaways. Male passengers generally treated the episodes lightly. Ex-Petty Officer Forster, one of the volunteer guards, said: “I cannot say whether the trouble was pre-arranged, but the worst of it was it scared the women.”

W. Dens states: “ Except for two women in hysterics, when the men were hosed, the passengers were calm and supported the captain.

Captain Daniel, asked if he wished to make any fresh statement apart from the evidence at Colombo replied : “It is all over and done with. I want to forget it. What is the use of reviving it?” The Australian Press representative informed him of the nature of the Commons discussions, including a suggestion that the owners should pay for the naval costs.

Captain Daniel asked: “Why, what is the navy for unless to police the oceans? Wasn’t it its duty to help when asked? Anyhow what did the navy do? It took four days to get a ship to my assistance.” He added that there was no written report of any sort. He would report verbally to the Chairman of the Board. Asked if lie. intended remaining under tlie new management, be replied: “ Yes—if they will have me.”