Report to Cruiser of Men Threatening to Set Fire to Ship with Six Hundred Passengers on Board London, June 20.
The mysterious plight of 600 passengers who are proceeding to London from Brisbane on the 14,000-ton Commonwealth liner, Jervis Bay, which is at present believed to' be midway between Australia and Ceylon, is indicated in a Colombo despatch quoting 9 [wireless message from the liner reading "Having trouble with eight desperate stowaways. Is any warship available?" which was picked up by the British cruiser Enterprise, The cruiser replied in the nega. tive but asked the liner if the situation were serious, As the crew of the str. Jervis. Bay totals over 100 the authorities in London are puzzled that eight stowaways should be troublesome as to necessitate the intervention of a warship, but since this morning no news has been received by the Admiralty or the steamship company's office London,—Reuter.
Colombo, June 21, The cruiser Enterprise to-day received a wireless message from the Commonwealth liner Jervis Bay, which is on its way here from Australia, saying: "Motiny. Threaten. ing set fire to ship. Send immediate assistance."
An officer and a party of armed mar-nes from the Enterprise thereupon departed for Trincomalee, they will embark on HM. oil-auxiliary Slavol, which will search for the Jervis Bay, It is understood that they have been instructed to take over-the steamer, Later.
Previous to receiving the abovementioned $.0.8,, Enterprise received the following: "Situation serious. Ask earliest removal eight men, under hatches but dangerous. Mutiny and incendiarism attempted, Passengers alarmed. Constant guard on men by volunteer passengers. Speedily assist me. T due Colombo Monday morni The party despatched from the arsiser comprise a boarding party of 20 marines under Lieutenant Whitfield—Reuter, London, June 21.
It is conjectured in London that the trouble on the Jervis Bay may be connected with the transfer of the Commonwealth Line to the White Star Line and the crew's objection to accepting the conditions. of the United Kingdon! Register This is the Jervis Bay's last voyage under the Commonwealth flag.
Tt is now learned that trouble arose a few days ago on the Esperance Bay's last trip under the old flag. Passengers complained of incivility on the part of the crew, who threw a piano overboard—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.