Arrived at Last.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1914, Page 5

Arrived at Last.

LABOR PARTY’S WELCOME REMARKABLE RETICENCE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] London, February 24. The Unigeni arrived at Gravesend tliis morning. A Labor deputation welcomed "the deported leaders. Ibe ■strictest secrecy was preserved to the last. The owners placed the direction ot the ship in the hands of the Shipowners’ Mutual Protection Association, which issued sealed orders in the Channel. The Laborites are insisting on similar reticence. Newspapers chartered special tugs and made desperate efforts to interview the deporteds in the Channel but failed. A deputation of Labor leaders spent the night at Tilbury Hotel. The deporteds refuse to leave the Fmgeni and demand to be taken back to South Africa. They forcibly resist removal from the ship. THE INDEMNITY BILL. Capetown, February 24. In the Assembly, the second reading of the Indemnity Bill was carried by 95 votes to 11. STATEMENT OF THE CASE. “YOU ARE FREE MEN!” A BOER COLONY INSTEAD OF BRITISH. (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, February 24. Bain has handed Mr Henderson, M.P., a statement reviewing the events. It states that the burgher force was composed almost entirely of back-veldt Boers who in the Germiston district acted like Bashiba/.ouks, riding down and arresting indiscriminately hundreds of crimeless people. When the deporteds were placed on the Fmgeni, they, were kept in their cabins, witli armed men inside and outside, until the vessel reached the thred-mile limit.

Then Major Trow stated that they were being deported to England by instructions from the Government, and that if they returned they would he arrested. The captain had been instructed to pay £3 to each on arrived in England. “When the vessel passes the three mile limit,” lie said, “you are free men.” The deporteds protested against the illegality of the Act. The statement adds: “It is because' the right of access to all courts is denied us that we appeal to the people of Britain and to the workers of the world to help us to prevent the South African Government usurping the judicial powers of the courts and their evident intention to make South Africa a Boer colony instead of British.” The owners of the Umgeni are taking advice as to their position. Misgiving exists in Labor circles respecting the legality of the contributions from' the unions towards the cost of entertaining the deported men. PERSUADED 70 LAND. (Received a.in.) London, February 24. Mr Henderson and other Labor leaders, from a launch, welcomed Ihe deportees. Bain said that acting on legal advice he refused to leave the ship. The captain refused to allow the Laborites aboard. The latter sang “The Red Flag,” the deportees joining in the chorus. Later, Messrs Henderson and Bowerman were permitted to board he Fmgeni and induced he deportees to land. REFUSE 70 TAKE MONEY. GUT OF RESPECT FOR LABOR, (Received 11.5 a.m.) London, February 21. The deported men refused the £.‘b They looked tired and worn, hut were pleased to land again. The crowd cheered and accompanied them to the railway station, where they entrained for London. The decision to refuse the money was due to the Labor Party's persistent appeals and promises to see justice done. It is understood the deporteds having made their protest said that they desired to show respect to the Labor Party. AN ALL-NIGHT SITTING, REPLYING TO ACCUSATIONS. Capetown, February 2-1. Tiie Assembly had an all-night sitting. General Smuts, replying to Mr Cress well’s accusation that the Government. ordered the censorship instructions to ho burned stated that ho wired to Pretoria on February 16th an order to burn a secret' document from the War Office relating to certain matters of wide world importance. When the new instructions were issued the old document had to be burned. The Government intended to endeavor to trace who revealed the matter. General Smuts proposed to mov» that a select committee enquired into the source of Mr Cresswell’s information regard-

ing the burning;. He concluded by declaring a basic guarantee of liberty wars the force of the Bill introduced providing for special leave and extra pay to loyal railwayman and for fining strikers I V days’ pay for every day they struck*