The Esperance Bay Mutiny

THE ESPERANCE BAY MUTINY.
LONDON. — For permitting Indonesi
ans to carry arms aboard the Esper
ance Bay, thus creating a situation in
which the ship's officers said they took
the risk of being murdered through-
out the voyage from Australia to Bat
avia, Australian authorities were se
verely criticised when the ship brought,
1400 Indonesian seamen to port at 
Batavla yesterday, says the. 'Daily
Mail's Batavla correspondent. He
states that Indonesians smuggled arms
on board the ship in a fantastic am-
ount of furniture and personal belong-
ings. They produced them soon after
leaving the Australian coast, and ad
opted such a menacing attitude that
the ship's captain called for an escort,
and H.M.A.S. Arunta joined the liner
before its arrival off Timor. Inter-
viewed by a 'Daily Telegraph' repor-
ter, Seedihiat, one of the alleged ring
leaders of the Esperance Bay mutiny,
alleged that Indonesians on board the
ship had been double-crossed by the
Australian Government. He claimed
that the Minister for Information, Mr.
Calwell, had assured him they would
be disembarked at 'Soeharno Port.' —
A.A.P.