NO MUTINY ON ESPERANCE BAY

NO MUTINY ON
ESPERANCE BAY
(From Special Representative of A.A.P.)
BATAVIA, Thursday, - No fire-
arms were found when tho British
field security service searched Indo-
nesians' luggage upon tho arrival of
the Esperance Bay at Singapore.
This report has been made by thc officer
in charge to-day. He said a number car-
ried sailors' knives, but as many of them
were sailors this was not regarded as un-
toward.
The passengers were at first reluctant
to disembark when (hey discovered that
some of their number were being detain-
ed, but yielded when they saw thc
authorities were firm, and gave no further
trouble,
OFFICIAL QUESTIONED
I put a series of questions to .Mr. K.
C. Plumb, Australian Covermnent repre-
sentative, who travelled in the Esperance
Bay.
Question: Could the voyage be accur-
ately described us a nightmare voyage?
Answer: No; it was very pleasant ex-
cept that there was an air of tension and
uncertainty. We always closed our ports
at night.
Question: Was there mutiny?
Answer; No: unless refusal to leave the
ship at Batavia, when 19 were detained,
could be called mutiny. The men held a
protest meeting at Koepang, as it was
announced that 19 must go ashore there.
They said all would willingly go ashore,
but would not go on without the others.
A conference called between Brigadier
Dyke, the captain and myself decided that
as the ship could not wait indefinitely, it
should proceed to Java. There was no
more positive trouble until we reached
Batavia, though the men were inclined to
argue politically whenever thc opportun-
ity offered.
Question: Bid you ever see Indonesians
offer force or make a threatening gesture
towards the crew?
Answer: no.