SENSATIONAL INCIDENT AT SYDNEY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 77, 3 April 1902, Page 2

SENSATIONAL INCIDENT AT SYDNEY.

COMMONWEALTH CONTINGENT IN DISGRACE. DRUNKENNESS AND DESERTION i ADDRESSED BY GENERAL HUTTON. Sydney, April 2. A sensational development occurred in connection with the departure of the third battalion of the Common* wealth Contingent. The men yesterday boarded the troopship Manhattan, which was anchored down the harbor. Prior to the departure to-day rumours were afloat that numbers bad deserted and many others managed toget ashore during the night. Major-General Hutton and the Ministerial party visited the Manhattan this afternoon to bid the men farewell. The men were drawn up on the deck, and not a few cases displayed such unsteadiness as caused General Hutton to severely reprimand them, while others were being helped aboard in a state of intoxication. Addressing ths Contingent, General Hutton said that he was not satisfied: with what he had heard. He then read '\, them a very severe lesson on the : necessity of discipline. Something had | happened which he heartily regretted to say Australia had reason to ber ashamed of. He understood that some of the men, after receiving the pay,, deserted. They were liable to be courtmartialled, and he hoped they j would be caught and made an example of. In all his, experience of Austra- , ; i lian soldiers in $buth Africa he Sever s | had a single ease for courtmirtial, nor . any serious lapse of discipline in a force of six thousand men; He trusleft fetiai,! the officers and men would realise their | grave responsibility, and maintain the high name, gallantry, good order, and discipline in the field which were the | proud attributes of the Australian troops. Referring to the shooting of Australian officers, lie said that we in | Australia had heard the defence only, but he knew and regretted to say, although not officially, that there was a truer version of the tale, and it wouldbe a s^-'di^;-^ensu^li^d^:;-C?o^?v: eluding General Hutton said:—"l wish you cordial good.luck* bu| for > goodness sake remember you take with : you the honour and renown already won by Australians ; and for God's sake don't tarnish, it." Immediately after the speech a sensation was caused by the announcement. that Colonel Wallack, the officer i» command of the battalion, had been relieved of the command, and MajorClarke, the second in command,, ordered to take command till thetransport reached Adelaide, where itwould take on the new commanding: officer. The Manhattan sailed in the afternoon, i