Scene on an Australian Troop-Ship.

Manawatu Herald, 5 April 1902, Page 2

Scene on an Australian TroopShip.

SERIOUS LACK OF DISCIPLINE. A sensational development took place in connection with the departure of the third battalion of the Commonwealth Contingent from Sydney. The men yesterday boarded the troopship Manhattan, which was anchored down the harbour, prior to her departure to-day (2nd April). Humours are afloat that numbers of the men deserted, and many others managed to get ashore during the night. Major-General Hutton, the federal Commandant, and a Ministerial party visited the Manhattan in the afternoon to bid farewell. The men were drawn up on deck, and in not a few oases displayed an unsteadiness that caused General Hutton to severely reprimand them. Others were helped aboard in a state of intoxication. Addressing the contingent, General Hutton said he was not satisfied with what he had heard. He then read a very severe lesson on the necessity of discipline. Something had happened he said, which he heartily regretted, and of which Australia would be ashamed, tie understood that some men, after receiving their pay, had deserted. They were liable to be court-martialled, and he hoped they would be caught and made an example of. In all his experience of Australian soldiers in South Africa, he had never had a single case, of court-martial, nor any serious lapse of discipline in a force of six thousand men. He trusted officers and men -to realise their grave responsi-

bility and to maintain the high name for gallantry, good order and discipline in the field which were the proud attributes of Australian troops. Referring to the shooting of Australian officers, General Hutton said in Australia they had only heard the defence, but he knew, and he regretted to say, although not officially, that there was a truer version of the tale, and it would be a sad one when published. Concluding, the Commandant said —“ I wish you cordial good luck, but for goodness sake remember that you take with you the honour and renown already won by the Australians, and for God’s sake don’t tarnish it.” Immediately after the speech, a sensation was created by the announcement that Colonel Waflack, the officer commanding the battalion, had bean relieved of his command, and that Major Clarke, the second in command, had been ordered to take command till the transport reached Adelaide, where the contingent would take a new commanding officer. The Manhattan sailed in the afternoon.