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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume I
145 — The Australian Commonwealth Naval Board to the Admiralty
145
The Australian Commonwealth Naval Board to the Admiralty
16 May 1940
With reference to ACNB 0207Z, 3 May, to Director of Sea Transport1 regarding the probable hold-up of X 5 and X 6 at Capetown owing to trouble with the Asiatic crew.
Following receipt of the message (No. 140) from the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs proposing the transfer of troops at Capetown from X 5 and X 6 to the other five ships of US 3 for
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onward passage to the United Kingdom, we understand that the Commonwealth Government is averse to the consequent overcrowding and other problems such as life-saving equipment, messing, and fresh water. In order to avoid these difficulties we propose that the Orcades,1 due at Colombo homeward bound on 17 May, fitted for 1600, and the Strathnaver,2 due at Aden homeward bound on 17 May, fitted for 1500, be diverted and ordered to proceed at best speed to Capetown, where they could arrive about 27 May and 26 May respectively. Both ships have a small number of passengers and full cargo for the Mediterranean and the United Kingdom.
1 Not published. In this telegram the opinion was expressed that the Chinese crew of these transports would refuse to go beyond Capetown if the convoy were diverted to the United Kingdom.
The convoy is due at Capetown on 26 May. If you concur with this proposal, we request that immediate steps be taken to arrange diversion.
This telegram is repeated to the New Zealand Naval Board.
1 Orient Line, 23,456 tons; sunk by enemy U-boat off the Cape of Good Hope, 10 Oct 1942.
2 Peninsular and Oriental Line, 22,283 tons.