DEPORTED STRIKE LEADERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 646, 25 February 1914, Page 5

DEPORTED STRIKE LEADERS.

ARRIVAL AT ENGLAND. By Telegraph..—Press Association.- -CopyrigUl Received this day, 9.10 a m. London, Tuesday. Mr Henderson, M.P., and other Labour leaders from a launch, welcomed the deported South Africans. Mr Bain thanked them for their welcome and said, acting on legal advice, they refused to leave the ship. The captain refused to allow the Labour representatives aboard. Tbe latter sang the "Red Flag," the depo*teds joining in the chorus. Later Messrs Henderson arid Bowerman were permitted on board the Umgeni, and induced the Jeporteds to land.

DEPORTED MEN'S STATEMENT

APPEAL TO WORKERS

Received this day, 9.10 a.m. London, Tuesday,

Bain has handed Mr Henderson, M.P., a statement reviewing the events. He states th 6 burgher force consisted almost entirely of back veldt drovers, who, in the Germaaton district acted like Baehi Bazouks, riding down and arresting indiscriminately hundreds of crimelass people. When the deporteds were placed on the Umgeni they were kept in cabins with armed men inside and outside uiitil the vessel reached the three-mile limit. Then Major Trew stated they were being deported to England by instruction from the Government. If they returned they would be arrested. The captain was instructed to pay them £3 each on arrival in England. "When the vessel passes the threemile limit you are free men." The deporteds protested againßt the illegality of the act. The statement adds: "It is because right of access to all the courts is denied us-that we appeal to the people of Britain and workers of the world to help us prevent South Africa from usurping the judicial powers of the courts and the evident intention to make South Africa a Boer colony instead of British-

The owners of the Umgeni are taking advice as to their position. A misgiving exists in Labour circles respecting the legality of the contributions from the unions towards the cost of entertaining the deported men.