LOOTING AT RABAUL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2474, 29 May 1915, Page 5

LOOTING AT RABAUL

DEBATE IN FEDERAL HOUSE

(Reo. May 28, 8.15 p.m.)

Melbourne, May 28. In the House, Mi\ Anst-ey renewed liis allegations of looting at Rabaul. He claimed that officers prevented the soldiers from looting, but themselves carried 011 a wholesale robbery. The looting occurred on a lai'go scale from the top to the bottom, the men simply did what they Baw their officers do. The responsibility rested with those controlling the expedition. He believed there would always be looting in connection with war, and the only honest thing was to let the sentenced men out of gaol. _ _ Mr. Fisher. Prime Minister, declared that the Govornmont was a clean Government. The mntter would not be allowed to rest there. A soldior had no right to loot. It was .the duty of the commanding officer to shoot him if he could not be stopped in other ways, lie denied the statement that no courtmartial could be trusted to try the culprit. If an officer had done wrong he should bo treated more severely than soldiers. Mr. Cook, Leader of the Opposition, suggested that a committee of members of the House or a Judge should investigate the whole business. Mr. Jensen said the Government took immediate action to sift the allegations, lie would never rest till this was thoroughly clone.