THE FIGHT IN AUSTRALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1919, Page 4

THE FIGHT IN AUSTRALIA.

BITTERNESS BETWEEN STATES AND FEDERATION

Sydney, Feb 13

The tight goes on against the influenza epidemic with great vigour. All public and private activities have been pushed into the background, and, in the view of the people nothing else matters except the, de truction of the ene:nv in our midst.

The papers pub’i-sh illuminating photographs showing the progress of the epidemic in Melbourne and Sydney. In Melbourne, the lines showing cases and deaths has been mount- [ ing steadily. The new cases reported ! daily have remained the same for ! about, a week now , bat the proportion of deaths has increased steadily. The epidemic thus tlispla3’s a characteristic - increasing virulence as it progresses. So far, Sydney has held the enemy. The ca-es reported daily vary from two to ten. Some days, tlietotal has been much more than that, but analysis invariably shows that most of these further cases are either nurses or patients sent ashore from newly-arrived ships. While Sydney, in many directions, has taken drastic precautions to check the spread of the epidemic, "Victoria continues to play with the situation. Melbourne lias boen subjected to very few restrictions, and its attitude towards the other States, which have vigorously banned all things Victorian, so that Victoria is almost completely isolated, is one of pain and surprise. The Victorian attitude particu-

[arly since ifc lias been backed up by ibe Federal autborities has aroused

the bitterest resentment in the other States. One may find universal in Sydney a sort of cold and growing fury against Victoria, which has infected this State, which is making no worthy effort to stamp out the disease,

and which is constantly trying to reestablish communications, and so reinfect New South Wales. The present temper of the people here is such that they would willingly stand armed at the border and shed blood*to keep out tbe germ-laden Victorians. This sentiment is only comparable to the anger that has been aroused against tlie Federal authorities in their handling of returning troops. Men for New South Wales are in-

variably turned loose in Melbourne for a while before beiug sent home. The result is that they are forced to undergo a btief period of quarantine iu Sydney, to the disgust of the men, and the chagrin of their relatives. Repeated protests to Melbourne against this system have had no effect. It has just been announced

that the New South Wale 3 men have been released temporarily from a transport in Mel bourne, so that a few hundred tons of Melbourne cargo might be unloaded. The men are thus exposed to the lisk of infection, and must be qua autiued heie. The news has caused a remarkable outburst of indignatiou here. This callous indifference to the health of the men, and the regard for Victoria’s cargo, is designated !l the limit.” The bitterness which exists betweeu the States cannot be exaggerated. Unification—the abolition of States towards which public opinion was rapidly growiug, lias received a great set-back.

TROOPS IiIIEAK OI'AKAXTI XE . The manner in which a large body of troops from the transport Argyllshire defied the authorities and broke quarantine has been the main sensa. tion in Sydney during the past week. The main facts have already been cabled. Three transports were unloaded in Melbourne, and the New South Wales men from all three, after being allowed to roam Melbourne at will were brought together in the transport Argyllshire and taken to Sydney. The Federal quarantine authorities called the ship clean, but the State insisted on a couple of days more of quarantine. Just before the ship was due for release, a case of pueumonic influenza developed aboard, aud seven days’ quarantine was ordered. Then the men—who had been subjected to varying periods of quarantine all the way from Fremantle, and who were now within sight of home—broke loose. They took possession of the ship, and before order could be restored, three boatloads had lauded. Forty men thus got clear, but the police went vigorously in chase, and nearly all were caught.

The main body of these men was landed at the Quarantine Station, Where they were promised a “ comfortable camp.” Instead they were turned loose on a scrub-covered, snakeinfested area, given bundles of tents aud blankets, and quantities of bread, raw meat, ten, and milk, and told to shift for themselves. There were no sanitary conveniences, and they had to go a quarter of a mile for water. Next morning they formed up, marched out of the quarantine area—the guard at the various gates fell back before their formidable numbers —and proceeded via Manly to the city. The military authorities, very wisely, did not try to stop them, but instead provided another camp for them at the Show-grounds. This they liiiaHy entered, after much argument, to undergo three more days of quanto tine.

Rioting was expected. lu.stead, these 1,000 men, before breaking quarantine, placed themselves in charge of their N.C.O.’n, and I heir march through the city was extremely quiet and orderly. They themselves took all precautions to prevent contacts, and would notallow any of their number (o mix with civilians. Nearly all weie men of long service, and tho gold stripes, which signify wounds, were frequent A great proportion of the men wore (lie ribbons of decorations. One of tho leaders had tho ribbons of the D.C.M., the M.M., and the Serbian Cross. The men bitterly contrasted the reception they expected with that they received. I thought we’d travel in motor-cars,” said one n:an, “ flil.li bands and things, instead, hero we are foot-slogging, under police escort, and not a cheer anywhere.”

The men who got away in boats j from the Argyllshire had curious experiences. Two encountered a picnic party and told their plight. Women helped them, and, disguised in women’s clothing they got into the city, and wandered about for hours. Then, realisiug their hopeless situation, they threw away their borrowed gar- j meats, aod gave themselves up Two men got as far as Newcastle. One was received in his native suburb by a Welcome Home Committee, including the mayor. Suddenly the police appeared, arrested the man, and isolated the whole committee and others present—who did not know j the man had broken quarantine—as contacts. They were released later on condition that they reported themselves at regular intervals.