LIVERPOOL CAMP INCIDENT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14974, 22 May 1914, Page 7

LIVERPOOL CAMP INCIDENT.

A MUCH OVER-STATED DISTUTIBANCE. (■Received May 21st, 9.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE,. May 21. Tho report of the Parliamentary. Committee which inquired into the disturbance at the Liverpool camp in November, has tabled its report. The report states that the disturbance was much over-stated. It was the result of tho ignoranco of inexperienced youths rather than insurordination. Inexperienced officers and inefficient arrangements woro contributing causes, but the Brigadier was principally to blame.

Senator Millen (Minisier of Defence) in'referring to. tho report, said that the reproach cast upon the Cadets was unmerited. Ho strongly condemned the repugnant system of secret reports whereby officers wero condemned without a chanco of defence. Orders had been issued that tho fullest opportunity for defence must be afforded in future

An insidious system of confidential reports on which citizen officers might bo judged, and perhaps condemned, while they were kopt entirely ignorant of the charges made against "them, has been disposed of as the result of an extended enquiry by tho Board which was specially appointed to enquire into matters arising out of tho disturbances at Liverpool camp in November and December last (says a message from Melbourno to the "Sydney Morning Herald" last week.) On November 30th the Fifth Infantry Brigade was in camp on the Liverpool manoeuvre area, and by order of tho Brigadier (Colonel E. C. Cooke), the town was placed out of bounds, a guard of ton men being placed in cbargo of tho bridge to see that none of the troops passed * Mary of tho troops endeavoured to force thoir way through the guard, with tho result that serious disturbances woro reported on two consecutive days.