MYSTERY LUGGERS.

Shannon News, 28 June 1927, Page 2

MYSTERY LUGGERS.

WERE ALIENS ABOARD? DARWIN, May 28. The belief of certain officers of H.M.A.S. Geranium that three Japanese luggers seen off Cape York a week ago were engaged in landing aliens on the northern toast hppears to be wellgrounded. The Geranium sighted three strange luggers about 12 miles off. Satisfied that they were foreign,-the commander gave chase. It was significant that when the sloop was seen putting on speed the luggers crammed all available sail and, bellying before a strong south-easter, endeavoured to get away,' ■ SLOOP GIVES UP CHASE. / 11.M.A.5. Geranium gained, btttv unfortunately, owing to the luggers reaching shallow water, where she could not follow, the chase was abandoned. Some deeklrands say that, in the fading light of the late afternoon they saw dinghies on the shore, with numerous figures which apparently had landed from the luggers earlier in the day. Hie luggers are ostensibly engaged shark-fishing, but there appears to bj little doubt that aliens were being brought to the northern shores of Australia. One lugger was intercepted, 1 last year on the northern side of Melville "island by the Geranium; but as the lugger was outside the territorial limits it could not be permanently detained, though her papers showed she was from the Far East.