OUTRAGE BY TURKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16749, 2 January 1915, Page 8

OUTRAGE BY TURKS.

EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT BROKEN HILL., . ,

PICNIC TRAIN ATTACKED.

Several persons shot.

ONE TURK KILLED AND ANOTHER CAPTURED.

By Telegraph—Pres3 Association—Copyright. (Received January 1, 9.16 p.m.) . SYDNEY, January 1. A sensational affair is reported from Broken Hill. The Inspector-General of Police this afternoon received the following report from Inspector Miller:— “ Two coloured men, either Turks or Afghans, armed with, rifles, fired at a picnic train laden with men, wo- * ' men and children en route: to Silverton, just outside Broken .Hill, this forenoon, killing and wounding save* rah Police went in pursuit of. the offenders, who took refuge in rocks on the hill. They fired at the police, wounding Constable Mills. -The offenders finally were shot down. One is dead and the other wounded. Gonstablo Mills and the wounded offender have been taken to the hospital.”

STQRY or THE ATTACK.

NARRATIVES OF EYE-WITNESSES (Received January 1, 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 1.

Unofficial reports state that the train was crowded with .members of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows en route to the annual picnic. When three miles from Broken Hill the passengers were startled by the sound of shots. ’ A cart flying a red flag with the star and crescent was standing near the line, and from it two turbaned men were rapidly firing rifles, As soon as the position was realised the train pulled, back - into a safety zoue. Passengers raced back to the scene of the firing, but the attackers had fled, taking refugo in a rocky hill in tho vicinity. The flag and cart, were seized. ..

When news of tho outrage reached the town a number of local infantry, riflemen arid police,, fully armed, scoured the country. Discovering the fugitives, they opened fire. After several volleys one ot the Turks dropped dead. The other was wounded and captured when seeking fresh cover. A third Turk put in an appearance and was taken prisoner.

On arrival in the town an enraged crowd tried to lynch the prisoners. ( An eve-witness aboard the train says that lie' observed puffs of smoko and heard sounds of tiring. At first, he thought someone was practising firing, but when bullets hit the train in all directions he saw the Turkish flag flying and knew that it was something moro serious.

One man jumped from the train with a view to informing the police. The Turks turned to fire at him, but he escaped, and the .attaokjeis-, renewed firing at the train as it moved out of danger, "M’" So far as is known three persons were killed:—

William Shaw, sanitary foreman, Broken Hill.

Miss M. Cowie, South' Australia. ... Millard,, an employee of the Umberumberka Company, -r ' All were shot through the head. Eight persons were wounded. ■

FOURTH PASSENGER KILLED.

SECOND TURK SUCCUMBS TO WOUNDS.

SHOOTING AT CLOSE RANGE. (Received January 2, 1.15 a.m.) Details arc meagre, rain interrupting telegrams.

Later messages state that four persons were killed, the fourth being an elderly man named James 'Greig. Eight were wounded, including two girls and a boy of four, who were seriously hurt. Millard was shot while riding alongside the train track. . The second Turk has succumbed to his wounds. Twelve hundred persons were aboard the train. , The Turks started the attack from an ice-creaem cart, from which th« Turkish flag flew. Then they took cover behind the railway embankment within close range, making their shooting deadly. ' A HOUSEHOLDER SHOT. In making their way from the scene of the attack to the rocks, the Turks knocked at a house door. On the inmate appearing a few words passed.' Then they shot him through the stomach, After the attack the train was taken to the Silverton Company’s siding. The wounded weTe removed and doctor* telephoned for. • So far no details have been received as to the identity of the attackers or their reasons. It is believed that the affair is the outcome of the war with Turkey. There is great exoitement in the town; *