LOOTING IN, NEW GUINEA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2444, 24 April 1915, Page 7

LOOTING IN, NEW GUINEA

SENTENCES ON AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS DISCUSSED IN FEDERAL HOUSE ■

Melbourne, April 23,

In the Federal House of Representatives. Mr. Anstey moved that it be an instruction to the Government to order/ the, immediate release of five privates of the German New Guinea Force now undergoing sentences of from three to fiv years' penal servitude imposed by court-martial at Rabaul. He alleged that distinctions had been drawn between officers and men. There had lasen cases of minor looting by men, but shiploads of officers' loot had left Rabaul. _

Mr. Jensen explained that the men sentenced had all beon guilty of robbery excepting one. who had been guilty of receiving. Tnere had been one case of robbery under arms from a German Catholic missionary. On the advice of the Attorney-General, the sentencos had been commuted to hard labour, and the Minister had decided that at the end of six months the sentences should be reviewed, with a view to the remission of part or the whole of the unexpired portion. Since the men had been sentenced they bad made allegations against others, including officers, being concerned in the looting. Sworn statements bad been placed before a, Court sitting in Sydney, which had obtained evidence on which tho trial of several persons would take place shortly.. Mr. Fisher (Prime Minister) declared that the end of the military forces would oome when Parliament directed that men should be released from imprisonment imposed by a court-mar-tial. / ■

The motion was withdrawn on the Minitser's assurance that everything was being done to -clear up the 'whole matter.. ■_ , >