GERMAN "MISSIONARIES."

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1916, Page 5

GERMAN "MISSIONARIES."

THEIR PRESENCE RESENTED. REMARKABLE SCENES ON LINER' TAINUI. Quite an unusual incident, And one of wore than passing interest in shipping circles, marked the departure on Saturday, August 12, from Sydney, New South Wales, of the Shaw. Savill and Albion liner Tainui (10,000 tons, Captain Moffatt), which left Wellington for Africa on August 5 (writes Mr, J. F. Hirst, en route to the Cape). It had been freely rumored that a number of German priests were to be shipped first-class to the Cape, and rumor was no less persistent that if the priests were shipped the crew would "strike." It appears that tlie priests were sent abroad for passage to the Cape by the Australian Minister for Defence, acting under initmetions from the Home authorities. On the morning of departure the priests, some of them 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 'harbor, but the firemen, greasers, stewards, and others of the crew declined to "turn to" until the unwelcome "guests'' were towed ashore. Captain Mofi'att, one of the most popular and experienced skippers* on the run from the Old Country to Australasia, advessed the men in a tactful and pacificatory speech, and enumerated the steps he 'had taken to solve a delicute situation. But the ci'cw were politely firm, and demanded that the Huns should either be. removed bag and baggage, or that they should be treated as prisoners of war and placed under military guard. In this they were supported by the passengers, Who expressed strong resentment at the presence of the Germans, and unanimously signed a petition to tlie skipper in terms of the crew's protest. In the meantime the priests perambulated the deck of the first saloon, tlie cynosure of all eye?. The stewards and others of the crew in order to cause the passengers no inconvenience, other than that which they were cheerfully prepared to undergo, resumed their ordinary duties, it being understood ii> the meantime that the vessel should not sal with the Teutonic element aboard. So the engine-room fires wore banked. In the afternoon tlie 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 ou tlicir chins, while the dulcet strains of the mouth-organ—-so dear to the 'heart of the East Endcr—floated across the sunlit waters of the .l'.wrbor. Night iame; there 'Wis no sign of departure, and the military left. An impromptu concert for'ard in tlie evening, the musical instruments of which were a Jew's tap, a mouth organ and a tin caii, was a pleasing diversion. When morning broke it was reported that we might sail next day, and visions of sun-baked kopjes, an illimitable veldt and kraal fires flashed across the imagination. But by 8 o'clock on Sunday morning a tug drew alongside the Tainui, and a little later the priests and their impedimenta, were transferred to the tug, which steamed Sydneywards. As the men made their way down the gangway the sides of the Hn«r were crowded 'with passenger*,