Australia.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 94, 23 April 1915, Page 6

Australia.

THE NEW CUINEA FORCE. IMPRISONMENT FOR LOOTING. DnITJKU PttEBS ASSOCIATION. (Received 9.3 a.m.) Melbourne, April 23. In the House the Hon. Anstey moved that it be an instruction to the Government to order the immediate release of live privates ot the German New Guihea force now undergoing sentences of three to. hve,,years penal servitude. The sentences were imposed by a court-martial at Rabaul. It was alleged that distinctions had been mado between the officers and men. There had been cases of minor looting by the men, but shiploads of officers' loot had left Rabaul. The Hon. Mr Jensen explained that the men sentenced were all guilty of robbery, excepting one who was guilty of receiving one case by robbery under arms from the German Catholic Missionary. On the advice of the Attor-ney-General the sentence had been commuted to hard labor. The Minister decided that at the end of six months the sentences would be reviewed with a view to the remission of part or the whole of the unexpired portion. Since being sentenced they had made allegations concerning others, including officers, concerned in the lootiilg. and sworn statements had been placed before a ton re sitting m Sydney, which will obtain evidence on which the trial of several persons will take place .shortly. ' ■ -Mr Fisher iPremier) declared that' the end of the military forces would come whmi Parliament, directed that men should be released from imprisonment which was imposed by a courtmartial. The motion was withdrawn on the Minister's assurance [chat everything was being done to clear up the whole matter. MISCELLANEOUS. Melbourne, April 22. Archbishop Clarke has renounced alcohol. | , • .',.' , Sydney, April 22. .Two German .prisoners of war escaped from Morobe, Xew Guinea, and arc' attempting to reach Lake Ramu dis-| trict, Papua. C-.,Li:<il' Sj urray anticipates an attack on a patrol station to obtain supplies and- wimble them to reach Dutch Xew Guihea. The War Precautions Amendment Act passed all its stages.