MORE TERRITORIAL TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1731, 23 April 1913, Page 7

MORE TERRITORIAL TROUBLE.

+ • A REPORTER ASSAULTED. OFFICERS BECOME INVISIBLE. An unseemly incident marred the finking of (ho Olngo infantry encampment lit Sutton on Satin-day momcng (states tlio IjDaily Times"), the representative of tim Otngo Daily Mimes" uuing roughly handled !»}• livo or six Territorials, and finally I,nst led into the creek wnieh Hows past tlio camp. The enuse of vne trouble (states tlio "Daily 'I'imcs") was tlio uppearaiico in last M'uenil.iy morning's issua of tho "Dally Times" or an account of u disturbance which toold place in tho <ith Kegiuieiit lines 611 tho previous evencng 113 a consequence of tlio quality of tlio tea that was then served out to vhe men. Tim incident' was accurately reported, and a number of iiien in tho regiment subsequently expressed tlio opinion that' from tnen onwards there was an improvement,' not only in tho tea, but also in tho meals as a whole. '

Our reporter (adds tho "Times") had just finished his breakfast on Saturday when ho was approached by a large group •of Territorials, numbering, apparently, about two companies in strength. At Una timo tlio work of tho day—that of striking tho tents of tlio encampment—had not been commenced. Tlio nifii demanded that an apology should bo inserted in tho "Daily Times'' for the matter' above referroct to, which they considered was a slur 011 tlio regiment, and they gavo our' representative u brief period an which to mako up liis mind on tho matter. He explained that personally ho had 110 power to grant their request, but if they felt they had a. grievance their complaint would bo forwarded through tho proper channel. Tlvis answer did not satisfy, them, Olid violent hands were laid oil tho reporter. Ho managed, however, to escapo from tlic men, and by crossing a brklgo gained tho shelter of tho brigade headquarters, which we're "out of bounds" for the troops. Tho group of men ranged themselves up on tho opposite bank, and for some timo hurled abusive epithets across tho stream and used somo lunguago that was tho reverso of edifying. A group of district stall' officers who had been watching proceedings disappeared suddenly, but tho reporter directed tlio attention of Captain Jllooro (brigade-major) as to what ; irai happening, and told him that he had cenio to headquarters for protection. Captain Moore curtly replied, "Well, stay hero for protection." Tho reporter asked Captain Moore what ho thought the 'causa of the trouble was, and tho reply was thai these men wanted to seo tho reporter about somo "rubbish" ho had written about their regiment. Tlio reporter then turned to Captain liobinson, and asked for his intervention,- but tliis officer, also look 110 action. 1 Tho reporter next sent a communication to Colonel M'Ara, ilia officer commanding tlio regiment, asking him to see him at headquarters, but this did not xiroduce any result that was ot\ service. ' -"I

Remembering that -the brigado iirad- . quarters were "out of bounds" tlio reporter remained where lie was, nnd tho crowd oil the opposite bank gradually assumed smaller dimensions. Somp Ifj nr 20 minutes later, however, n squad of inen, five or six in number, including at least ono non-commissioned rank, crossed the bridge, seized the reporter roughly, dragged him from tlui brigado office tent,' and bustled■ him into the creek nearby. The reporter had but shortly regained tho shelter of the teut when-' Colonel M'Ara nnd tho Ho v. G. .T. Bush-King entered. Colonel M'Ar.i immediately expressed his teen regret nt the occurrence nnd stated th.lt though the reporter's communication had reached him some time before, he had not been ablo to come any sooner. Colonel M'Ara and Mr., liu.shKing kindly helped tlio reporter, to oMnin dry clothcs. ' Other ofioers, including two majors of tho 4th Regiment, subsequently expi-essed to him their regret at the occurrence.' Ono of them, a. captain, charac terised tho incident as a most cowardly assault, and l elated that li'ad he been present it would not have happened. The reporter also received expressions of sympathy right and left -.from other members of the regiment. On tho march between tho camp and the Sutton railway station he was lustily cheered bv about half-a-dozen companies, while two companies treated him to a hostile demonstration. .When the Garrison Hull was reached II Company of the 4th Regiment, which Was considered by tlio remainder of the-regi-ment to hare been responsible for the assault, was lustily hooted by tho other companies. A point in connection with tlio matter tlint liecesairily orises. is why tho squad of men who crossed tlio bridge were thus nil owed to break bounds. Tho, curious circumstance, too, will not escape notice that tho men allowed five days to elapse before their concern for tho honour of their regiment led them to act in th« manner they did. There is little reason, however, to doubt that they acted upon hints and suggestions which were given to them by certain persons of higher rank than themselves. Presumably tho militarj authorities will not deem tlio incident unworthy of investigation, but. an any ca», Micro may be other proceedings.