THE MUTINY ON THE AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 240, 4 July 1919, Page 7

THE MUTINY ON THE AUSTRALIA

TROUBLE ON FEDERAL BATTLE-CRUISER

SENTENCES TO BE REVIEWED

Melbourne, July 1. Mr. W. A. W<vtt states that as soon as the papers in connection with the courtmartial on the warship Australia are available the sentences imposed on the men will be reviewed.—Press Assn.

STORY OF THE INCIDENT

For having participated in a mutiny on board H.M.A.S. Australia, at I'Yeninntlo, on Juno 1, five men, all youthful in appearance-, wero on June 20 sen. traced to , imprisonment, and three cf them to dismissal from His Majesty's Australian Service upon the expiration of their sentences. One of them was among the volunteers for the Zeebruggo raid, and holds the D.S.M. The circumstances of the outbreak were told before a court-martial held on ioard H.M.A.S. Encounter. The men charged were: D. J. 0. Rudd (D.S.M.), able seaman; W. Thompson, ordinary eoaman; K. H. Palerson, ordinary seaman; L. T. Rudd, stoker: nnd W. G. M'lntosh, stoker. They wero cbaTged with "having, while belonging to H.M.A.S. Australia, and then beinjj persons subject to the Naval Discipline iVct, joined in a mutiny not accompanied by violence on board the Australia on Juno 1, 1919." Captain Cumberlege, of H.M.S. Australia, appeared to prosecute. The oharge ivas accompanied by a circumstantial report of Captain Cuinborlege, stating that at about 10.30 a.m. on Sunday, June 1. at i'rem&ntle, his attention was directed to a large body o° men, between 80 and 100 in number, who came up on the quar-ter-deck and assembled in front of "P" turret. Ho noticed that many of the men wore the rig of "liberty-men, and that they straggled on to the quarter-deck and formed up there with ft more or less even front, but no attempt at orderly formation was made. It was, in fact, what may bo termed <i mob, rather than an orderly deputation. The commander reported that the assembly, through a spokesman, asked that the ship might be delayed in sailing, so that the ehip's comuoiiy might be given a, further opportunity to entertain their friends from Itomantlo. On receiving tins information, he at once realised that this was no ordinary request preferred in a legitimate manner in accordance with the customs of the service and articles of war, and he, speaking quietly, and in measured tones, indicated that it was impossible to accede to the request, whioh, indeed, amounted to a demand, to dolay tho ship's sailing, and then ordered them off tho quarter-deck. A number of ejaculations of an insubordinate nature were being made by them, and certain persons, obviously fomenting trouble, were noticed, end their names were taken. At that time the ship was actually standing by to proceed to sea. Very shortly after this the Commodore having oome aboard and the last boat having 'been hoisted, he gave the ordei "Lot go aft," when simultaneously from tho telephone room he received a communication that the stokers on watch had left ,t*ie boiler-room. Certain persons were seen to be conferring on thn mess decks prior to the assembly, and these persons' intentions wero to collect others with a view to forming tho ns ; Mt-nibly before referred to. Immediately after 'the assembly had straggled off the quarter-deck, a number of men, some of whom had their faces masked with black silk handkerchiefs, proceeded below to the boilor-room, and intimidated or induced the watch of stokers to quit their duty, which had tho effect of holding up the ship from proccedinir to sea until such time as it was possible to fall in the chief petty officers, potty officers, and officers, and tell off the. necessary duty men for steaming tho ship. The act of mutiny committed by the accused consists in tho fnot that a body of men, of which the following formed part, resisted lawful authority, inasmuch as they prevented taking his ship to sea. Hospitality the Motive. The accused pleaded guilty, and in a signed statement said: "Our respective nges range from 18 to 23 years, and we have been on ftctivo service, principally i.i tho North Sea, for periods rantring from three to live years. Upon arrival at Fremantle we were the recipients of a. great welcome by the people of Western Australia, and many kindnesses were shown ur). Oil the last day, whilst further participating in the hospitality of tho people, the rumour went round that the vessel would not leave until Monday, it being then Saturday, and also that the OToplo would be admitted on board on Sunday evening. This gave great satisfaction to the crew, as we felt that we would bo able to show in some 6raa.ll degree our appreciation of oil the good things that had 'been done for us. When wo returned on board on Sunday morning, and learnt for the first time that the ship was sailing in an hour or two, a great deal of resentment was evidenced among the crew. Personally, we are not clear of what followed, as we were feet ing more or lees the effects of four days' festivities. Certainly we did not realise the seriousness of attempting to prevent the departure of the ship, or that the same would be tantamount to an act of mutiny. We do not consider that tho foregoing in any way justifies the subsequent action taken by ve and other members of the crew. We had no deGiro to bo disloyal to our officers or to bring discredit on our ship." . A special plea was made on behalf of Paterson that he h<id been exposed to evil counsels beforo he joined the Australia, and it was not until he heard the articles of war read for the first time on the Sunday in question that ho realised what a serious matter it was for a loreo body of men to refuse duty. The Court's decision was as follows:— M'lntosh to be put to hard labour for two years, and at the expiration of the months, and dismissed from the Service; L. T. Rudd to be imprisoned for two years, and at the expiration of the term to be dismissed from the Service: I). J. O. Rudd to be imprisoned for eighteen months, and dismissed the Service; and and Thompson and Paterson each to be imprisoned for one year.