_During the last few days some brief particulars have appeared. in the Japanese journals regarding trouble that has arisen im connection with the crew of the Hélime Rickmers at Moji. We have now, says the "Kobe Chronicle," obtained a statement regarding this case, which is of a remarkable nature.
According to the facts which have been related to us, the German steamer Helene Rickmers, Captain Warneke, was lying in Moji harbour about a week ago, when the Captain received a deputation from the Chinese crew asking that the Chinese should be discharged at that port. The Captain objected to this on the ground that there was no German Con-Sulate in Moji where could be given " discharge, and that it would be impossible for him to obtain another crew at Moji. He promised, however, to take the men to Singapore and pay them off there, and to send them back to Hongkong from that port. It appears that meanwhile some of the Chinese had gone ashore, and they were told by a Chinese compradore that he could lodge the whole of the Chinese if they liked to leave the ship and come to his premises. These men, returning on board, communicated this invitation to the rest of the Chinese crew, and the Chinese thereupon insisted on leaving the ship in a body, notwithstanding the direct orders of the Captain. On the Chinese attempting, to desert the vessel the officers interfered and a row
sharp struggle the Chinese were locked ensued, the result being that after a up in the forecastle.
During the struggle blows were struck, and the Chinese apparently bore some marks of the affray, for on a number of them escaping' through the ventilator of determination to enhance her reputation. the forecastle and reaching the shore, she laughs at records; in her eyes records are merely things to be broken, and 14 days after commissioning two of them had already gone to the wall. Record the first "Commissioned on Tuesday, Nov. 3; the Centurion left Portsmouth for Qhiua at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and she was ready to leave two days curlier had it been necessary. This has never been equalled before. Record the second—Arrived at' Malta 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17th. No ship in the Navy has ever accomplished the feat of reaching Malta 14 days after shy was commissioned, and the run from Porte-mouth would have done credit ta a liner. T repeat the Centurion is proud of herself, and we are proud of her. In the words of Radyard Kipling, she 1s a ship that has found herself" in remarkably short space space of time. Everything is ship-shape from the brasswork to engines, and, in the opinion of the ship's company as a whole, she is in every respect the most comfortable vessel in the service. And it is the same with her officers and men. We had "shaken down" almost before we had they laid a complaint against the Captain and officers for assault, showing the wounds they had received as evidence of maltreatment. The authorities, without apparently attempting to make any further inquiries, at once proceeded on board and arrested the Captain and officers.
We are informed that the Captain, who was ill with rheumatism and unable to walk without the assistance of a stick, was placed in the ordinary jail, and was compelled to divest himself of his hat, overcoat, watch, and - pocket-book, which the police took ion. The cell into which he was locked was without any apparatus for being warmed, and it [had broken windows, through which. the rain and wind came. Here he remained for some thirty-six hours. Meanwhile the German Consul at Nz i had been communicated with, and he-at once sent the German Interpreter, Dr. Specka, to make inquiries, whereupon the Captain and officers wore released.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.