RIOT AT CODFORD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 7

RIOT AT CODFORD

* TROUBLE WITH TIJE SOLDIERS. A Wellington soldier, writing from tlie New Zealand Camp nt Codford, "Wiltshire, on December 2, mentions what'he describes as a riot which took-place in tho camp on November KS. His story runs:—"it was alt caused through the treatment received by the .boys from the' colonel in charge of the camp. He used to 'clink' tho boys for the least offence, so a number got together, and'wider 1 the name of ".rhe.Chine.se Lin Plato' they sallied forth to. deal with the colonel. "They found him. in his office, dragged him outside, haiidefiifTed him, and. it was not till ho promised not to. 'clink' tho boys, and to give them more leave'that; lio was allowed'to go. 'He wns severely handled, and suffered injuries -.to his face. The soldiers then run riot, raiding tho sergeants' nieis, pulling, everything to pieces, taking the money which was in the canteen, and commandeering all tho uniforms. Next they proceeded to tho Eoyal George Hotel at Codford, and commenced smashing the building and its fittings to pieces. The reason for the assault 011 the lintel "'as, it. was staled, because (he soldiers were' charged iflid. for a pint of ale. This was. too Wioh for the boys, and' they thought ! that the publican was making too much money. There was not a glass window,electric light globe. or bottle left in the premises,. . The street was running'in. beer, wine, and blood. "It looked lis if'the place was in the .firing-line' in Vi/nce instead ,of in the peaceful village,of Codford. The rioters took; from the cash register, and their intentions were to proceed to London, but the tinielv arrival of a strong liicqtict put an end to the 'Chineso Lin Plate.' They were' all arrested and placed 111 the. civil gaol to-'await their trial. Codford.lwe once again assumed its peaceful atmosphere." No exnlanaiion of the nieaning of the title "Chinese Liu Plate" is given in the letter."

An'eloquent." testimony to the manner, in which prisoners of war were treated l>y the British is contained in the following extract from the'diary of a. German prisoner who was captured in Palestine oil July 14: "After being fired at in front b.v the British and in the rear, by the Turks, we woro captured on July 14 by Australians. They vcre a spieiulid lot of fellows, and treated us very well. The average Englishman oil this front is a thoroughly decent chap, and the treatment is excellent. Wo had very lienvy losses, and I. should imagino that the Asia Corps had practically ceased to exist. I was surprised at our good treatment. I shall never believe any more newspaper yarns about tho bad way in which tlio British treat their prisoners of war. 1 must say that I am beginning to appreciate tiie British more from day to day.; they are all thorough gentlemen. We are getting more fcod than we can oat, and the only thing lacking is tobacco."