GERMAW "MISSIONARIES."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 6 September 1916, Page 3

GERMAW "MISSIONARIES."

their presence resented.

remarkable scene on liner

TAINUI.

(>uii«* an unusual incident, and one u t; more than passing interest in shipping circles, marked the departure on Saturday, August dth, from Sydney, New South Wales, oi 'he Shaw,. .Savill and Albion liner Tannn ■ HO,OUU tons, Captain Molfatt) which left Wellington for Africa on August olh (writes Mr J. F. Hirst, en route to the Cape), it had been freely rumoured that a number of Herman m nests were to he shipped lirst-clas.i to the Cape, and rumour was no less persistent that if the priests were shipped the crew would “strike.” it appears that the priests were j sent aboard for, passage to the Cape by the Australian Minister for Defence, ■ acting under instructions from the Home authorities. On the morning of departure the priests, some oi 1 hem of venerable appearance, joined the vessel .while final arrangements for the sailing of the Tainui were being completed. The crew, together with the stewards. assembled for’ard; it was evident that trouble was brewing. The liner was navigated into the harbour, but the firemen, greasers, stewards and others of the crew declined to “turn to” until the unwelcome “guests” were towed ashore. Caplain Moffatt, one of the most popular ami experienced skippers on the run from the Old Country to Australasia, addressed the men in a tactful and pacificatory speech, and enumerated the steps he had taken to, solve a delicate situation. But the crew were politely firm and demanded that the Huns should either be removed bag am! baggage, or that they should be treated as prisoners of war and placed under military guard. !u this they were supported by the passengers, who expressed strong resentment at the presence oi the Hermans, and unanimously signed a petition to the skipper in terms of the crew’s protest. In the meantime the priests, perambulated the deck oi the first saloon, the cynosure of all eyes. Tim stewards and others of the crew, in order to cause the passengers uo inconvenience, other than that which they wore cheerfully prepared to undergo, resumed their ordinary duties, it being understood in the meantime that the vessel should not sail with the Teutonic element aboard. So the engine-room -ires were banked. In Lhe afternoon the military boarded the liner and discussed the situation with the skipper. The crew, to while away the time, sang patriotic airs and* coon songs, and balanced ships’ brooms on their chins, while the dulcent strain ot the mouth-organ —so dear to the heart of the East Emler- floated across the sunlit waters oi the harbour. Night came; there was no sign of departure and the military left. An impromptu concert for’ard in the evening, the musical instruments, ot which were a. Jew’s harp, a mouthorgan, and a tin can, was a pleasing diversion.

When morning broke it was reported j.biit we might sail next day, and vision* of sun-baked kopjes, an illimitable veldt and kraal lives. Hashed across the imagination. But by 8 o’clock oil Sunday morning a tug drew alongside the Tainui, and a little later Ihe priests ami their impedimenta were transferred to the tug, which steamed S,\ dueywards. As the men made their way down the gangway the sides of the liner were crowded with passengers. One cannot help paying a tribute to all on the Tainui. The presence of “missionaries” had aroused deep resentment. But their humiliation was relieved, and they neve allowed to depart without any oi those unseemly incidents that one naturally associates with the elemental passions and brute primitive instincts of the Tenion, hui which are fundamentally at variance with the traditional sporting spi nit ol the British stock.