Evening star., 1933-02-10
1OO-Pounder Dropped When
Seamen Ignore Command
to Surrender.
CREW FLEES CRUISER
WHEN FIRE BREAKS OUT
Pursuing Squadron Stands By as
Airmen Attack, Injuring Is.
Captive Officers Unharmed.

BATAVIA, Java, February 10
Eighteen men were killed and 25 in
jured aboard the rebellious Dutch
cruiser De zeven Provincien when a
naval fighting plane dropped a bomb
on the ships deck today, forcing the
mutinous native crew to surrender.
The dead comprise Europeans and
Is Javanese natives. One Dutch officer
and cne young Dutchman were slightly
wounded.
The dramatic end to the nlutineers'
career came at dawn off the Southwest
Sumatra coast when concentration Of
Dutch naval and air forces bore down
on the fleeing quarry and ordered her
to surrender within 10 minutes.
The rebels, defiant to the last. flashed
a reply, Don't hinder u.s." They failed
to show a white cloth on the deck
awning as directed in token of uncon-
ditional capitulation.
Warning Bomb Dropped.
The attackers reaction was decisive
AS soon as the brief period of grace
expired warning bomb was dropped
alongside the De Zeven.
AS there was no further sign from
the mutineers, down went a 100-pound
bomb from cne of half dozen planes
in an attacking air feet. 1t exploded
with roar on the deck Of the rebel
craft.
That was enough for the mutineers,
who had been running wild for five days
on the Indian Ocean with eight of their
Dutch officers held prisoners. The ma
tives signaled their surrender and then
took to boats as fire broke out aboard
the cruiser from the effects of the ex-
plosion.
The attackers were prepared to 60
much further If the first onslaught
failed, as several larger bombs, I'D to
400-pounders, were held in reserve.
Meanwhile the cruiser Java and the
destroyers and submarines composing
the pursuing East Indies squadron
watched from a distance, ready for
immediate action should occasion re-
quire it.
Little Damage From Fire.
The fire aboard the De Zeven seemed
to have done little damage, as her
wireless continued to work, and her
rightful captain, Comdr Eikenboom,
went aboard. He had been left behind
in port when the natives ran away with
the cruiser in protest against a wage
reduction.
Eikenboom took command after
quitting the government steamer
Eredinus in which he had been follow
ing the cruiser since Sunday. A naval
escort was bringing him and his cruiser
here.
The native mutineers might have
didn't have a chance against the sea-
plane. Although the cruisers deck
bristled with 16 heavy cannon ranging
In size up to 11inchers, it had not a
single anti-aircraft gun.
The Dutch officers, kidnapped when
the crew stole the ship as protest be-
cause their wages had been reduced,
apparently were unharmed.
42O Seized in Disorders.
The mutiny was the elimination of a
series of similar actions by natives
Even Dutch sailors themselves refused
to attend a regular morning parade less
than two weeks ago. This was smoothed
over, buC Wnen natlVe sailors did the
same thing last Friday, it was not set
tied so quickly. They continued to dis
obey orders and 420 of them were ar
rested.
When the crew of the De Zeven
mutinied, one Dutch officer managed to
escape in a rowboat. He said the ma
tives were in an ugly mood and had
obtained arms from a cache of rifles.
Later message from the natives said
they had not harmed the eight officers
who remained aboard
The captain Of the cruiser gave
chase Immediately. He kept close in
the wake Of his vessel but he was
travelling in an unarmed government
ship and it would have been foolhardy
to challenge the natives. He main
tanned contact, however, until they
were met by the fleet
HAGUE CRISIS THREATENED.