REPATRIATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16431, 27 January 1919, Page 7

REPATRIATION.

» A STREAM OF AUSTRALIANS. (By OabJe.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 22. The stream of Australians going to England is now constant. It is estimated that it occupies weeks for a soldier to leave his unit in Belgium and embark at an English port for Australia. Batches of oue thousand men from each division are already en routq to England. The men romaming -with, their units' in the field have protested against men on leave being granted preference of repatriation. They found that many of their comrades who departed for fourteen days' leave did not return to their battalions. The authorities are therefore abandoning extension of leavo in which a proportion of men on the conclusion of their leave in England aro able to state their claims for early repatriation. Many bogus claims by men who only wishpd to securo a few i extra days' leave, have been discovered. It has been docided that men who do not present special claims (which are considered without delay) must take their place in the repatriation "queue" from their own units. Thus the scheme will operate fairly throughout. Every available berth to Australia will be utilised, small parties being placed aboard mail steamers at the last moment where the accommodation is not all occupied. The Ceramic has sailed with a full complement of Australians. (Received January 26th, 6r5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, January 26. The Ministers' Conference resolved) that Australia was justly entitled to be indemnified by the enemy countries for j the monetary cost the war had entailed. The Sub-committee on Repatriation! presented a report reoommending that upon all advances by the Commonwealth to the States in connexion with repatriation, the rate of interest should) be 1 per cent, 'ess than the ooat to the Commonwealth, and that the maximum individual advance be £625. The Conference has adjourned.