TRANSPORT THIEVES THRASHED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 38, 8 November 1919, Page 8

TRANSPORT THIEVES THRASHED

A remarkable story was brought hv soldiers who -arrived at .Melbourne oil tho transport l'lnssy recently. During the voyage, between London and Colombo, a series of robberies took pl.\ce. Kits were rifled, others stolen, and jewellery and other valuables belonging to nursing siskirs were taken from their cabins. At Colombo blankets and ham mocks, valued at .t'lßs. which had been illegally sold ,to the natives, were recovered liefore the vessel departed. One soldier staled that two Victorians were sandbagged and robbed in France by men in Australian uniforms, and one of these boarded the Plnssy in London. At Colombo a Salvation Army girl was assaulted by soldiers, robbed of. Hie few pence in her eollcciion-box, unA a number of men on board were attacked and aandbagged. While at Colombo ouo man narrowly escaped being kicked to death.

These things incensed the soldiers on the transport, and they decided to take action. After four liien who, it whs alleged, had been serving long sentences at Lewes mid Dartmoor were arrested on returning from shore leave, a court-mar-tial was ordered. The Uiggeis gathered about the colls mid threatened to break in the doors. When the first man came from the court-martini he was thrashed and thrown overboard, but his foot caught in a railing, and an oiiitvr, rushing up, prevented the soldiers' intentions from being carried out. A second man appeared thirty minutes later, lie was beaten severely," and then hurled overboard. A lifebuoy'wits thrown alter him, but before the vessel turned he was miles astern. In the lowering of a lifeboat the rope carried away lieiore the bout readied the water, ami an officer and a l.asear crow were precipitated into a heavy sea. Another boat was launched, and the floundering crew rescued wiTii difficulty. The suspect was some distance off, kicking desperately to frighten sharks, which were about. He was an hour in tho water, and was exhausted when rescued. ' At a court-martial, held .subsequently the man thrown overboard was sentenced, with two others, to one year's imprisonment, and the fourth man received nine months' imprisonment,