RIOT IN A MILITARY CAMP

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2155, 22 May 1914, Page 7

RIOT IN A MILITARY CAMP

AN AUSTRALIAN INCIDENT

INEXPERIENCED OFFICERS fly TelesraDh-Pres® Assooiatlon-G'oßyrizht (Rec. Xay 21, 9.35 p.m.) Melbourne, May 21. The report of tho Committee of Inquiry which investigated tho circumstances connected with tho riot at Liverpool Territorial camp in November last has been presented to Parliament. This states that the disturbance was mncli over-stated, and was tho result of ignorance, inexperience, and youth, rather than insubordination. Inexperienced officers, and inefficient arrangements wore .the contributing causes, but tho Brigadier was principally to blame. Senator Millen (Federal Minister for Defence), referring to the report, said that tho reproach cast on the men was unmerited. 110 strongly condemned the repugnant system of secret reports, under which officers wero condemned without any chance of .defending themselves. Orders would b? issued that the fullest opportunity for defence would be afforded in future. In November last a serious incident occurred at the military camp near Liverpool. The township was proclaimed out of bounds, with a view to nreventing the men going thero to get liquor. A narty of men, who had no permission to leavo camp, walked to George's River Bridge, where they were blocked bv a picket, numbering ten men, who were carrying side arms only. The picket ordered them back. Some obeyed, but others remained, and their numbers were gradually augmented. The non-commis-sioned officer in charge of tho picket then summoned assistance. Determined rushes werA made against the picket, but tho ten men stood firm, until finally they wore carried back thirty yards on to the bridge. A' relief party then arrived, with fixed bayonets, and advanced with bnvonets at tho slope. /This caused tho rebels to, back (iway to the other end of the bridge, where they made a stand, and challenged the relief party to come on. The onposing parties wero within a few .feet of each other, and a collision seemed imminent, but a second relief party roon arrived. The Brigade Major (Captain Bilton) had meanwhile gone among the rebels, ordering the men in a cool. commanding_voice to go back, and an officer gave the order to slope arms. This saved the 1 situation, as tho sight of the bayonets at the chargo was lieloing to lntlamo the rebels. Captain Bilton's persuasive nowers were successful, and the men returned to the lines, leaving the armed party in command of the bridge. The ringleaders were heavily fined.