Insubordinate Victorians.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 293, 18 December 1901, Page 2

Insubordinate Victorians.

OBJECT TO BE TERMED “WHITELIVERED CURS.” By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Adelaide, Dec. 17. Troopers Steele, Richards, and Parry, members of the Victorian Fifth Contingent, sentenced to death for mutiny at Middlesburg, and subsequently released, arrived by the Oroya. They stated in an interview that the trouble arose through their not being allowed to go to the assistance of their comrades, who were boing attached by the Boers. News of the disaster reached them at midnight, and they were ordered to go to the assistance at once, but General Beatson kept them standing to their horses till daylight in the morning. He was frightened to move lest he should bo surprised. When they did arrive they found twenty-two of their comrades killed and forty-three wounded. Some days after the incident wherein General Beatson called the Victorians “ white-livered curs” ho ordered to march. Right through the ranks there was a determination not to go with him again, and what was virtually a refusal of orders took place. A lance-corporal advised the men not to mutiny, warning them that if they did they would be shot. Steele remarked that they would be better shot than follow a man who called them “ white-livered curs.” Australia would think more o£ them if they threw down their arms. This led to Steele’s arrest, l’arry and Richards were previously arrested for trying to get the men to mutiny.