SAVAGE AFFAIR IN CAMP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1683, 25 February 1913, Page 6

SAVAGE AFFAIR IN CAMP.

GENERAL MELEE. "FOOTIES" ,& GUNNERS AT GRIPS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, February 24. An inquiry is to bo held by the Officer Commanding the Auckland Coast Defence Troops into an incident' that marked the last night in camp of that portion of the troops who were stationed at Narrow Neck. In addition to No. 7 Company Garrison Artillery there was an infantry detachment, the two camps adjoining each other, but being under quite separate administration. The facts of the incident are known 'at present only to the actual participators and in view of the official inquiry that is pending, there is a distinct unreadiness to report the occurrence at all. In a general way, however, it may be explained that something in the nature of a raid o;; the infantry camp was made by somo of the gwiners from the artillery camp, and there was a melee in consequence, During tho melee an infantryman, who was sounding an alarm, was struck with a mallet, but was not seriously hurt. It is alleged that-the object of the raiding party was to secure and deliver "bagged," within' the artillery lines, a certain infantry officer and, though this seems to have been the case, it is certain that the incident has since been almost concealed in an exaggerated mass of trimmings and extras. A serious allegation, is- current' to the effect that the artillerymen we're urged to. carry out their purpose' by a wager made by one of their own officers and. from the military point of view, an equally serious allegation is that the wager was a bottle of whisky.