New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 51, 5 February 1916, Page 5

New Zealand

THE HAMMER TROUBLE.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENTS REPLY.

Fuji Press Association

Wellington, February I

Replying to the allegations of returned soldiers that at Hannier they ,'vere badly treated, the Defence headquarters states that all that lias happened is that the majority of the men I were brought before the medical hoard slightly sooner than otherwise would jhave been the case*, because they were proving themselves unruly. Any rights they had under the Pensions Act still existed, and the same applied to their pay. It was necessary to maintain discipline for the men’s own sake. Headquarters had every confidence in the discretion of LieutenantjColonel Louche, the officer in command at Hanmer. MORE MEN FAREWELLED. Auckland, February 4. A parade to-day through the streets of the Fourth Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, the third Maori Contingent, and two sections of No. 2 Rifle Brigade Ambulance created great enthusiasm, thousands lining the route of march. The soldiers were addressed on the wharf by the Governor the Premier, and the Hons. Allen, Romaic and Myers. The Governor said the men had a great name to uphold, and he knew they would uphold it. The Premier said the fact that tens of thousands of soldiers had already gone to the front, and the fact that thousands more were willing to follow, showed the determination of the Dominion to assist the Empire. CASUALTIES TO DATE. Wellington, February 4. An official return gives the following totals up to, and including, January 31: — Officers. Rank. Killed ’ 69 1132 Died of wounds ... 24 535 Died of disease ... 9 278 Died, cause unknown 6 348 Drowned I*4 23 Missing ... 14 252 Prisoners ... ... Wounded ... ... 217 5245 Totals ... 349 7836 This makes the aggregate casualties 3185, various deductions from items in previous lists having been made as a result of a court inquiry 'clearing up the fate of men reported missing in earlier dispatches. ALLEGED SPY IN WELLINGTON. N ' Wellintgfcon, February 4. A man, supposed to be a German, and suspected of being a spy, was arrested before the Manuka left to-night for Sydney. The man has been in Wellington for some time, ahd suspicion was aroused by the pertinacity of his inquiries among the French reservists who are travelling in the Manuka as to the nature of the defences in the Pacific Islands. 8 The military authorities were communicated with, and the man was placed under arrest. it is understood that when he tried to get away from the Dominion in the Manuka the Frenchmen got excited, and the German was handled roughly’by them until he was rescued by the authorities. STORY OF THE ARREST. | EXCITED FRENCH RESERVISTS. When the announcement was made in the Anti-German League’s room this evening that a spy had been arrested there was great excitement among the members present. One of those who heard the news with interest was Madame Boeufve, who subsequently related to a New Zealand Times representative many details of importance. As a -Frenchwoman, she enjoyed exceptional facilities foi ob tabling infromation from the French reservists who have just been visiting Wellington. , “As soon as I heard of the arrest, she said, “I went straight down to the steamer, accompanied by Mr J. Payne, M P There 1 interviewed the French reservists, and also spoke to the police sergeant, and obtained from the former the following stoit . “ ‘This man was one of the first persons to go aboard the Maitai when they arrived by her last Sunday. Ho ; took pains to make himself most amiable to them, and accompanied them wherever they went. Incidentally he asked them all sorts of questions, and in a quiet way sought to discover as much as he could about them. It was however, noticed that he spoke I renc i with a strong German accent, and they became suspicious of him and Ins apparent friendship. Still, they made

no sign, -and in a way led him on still further. To night, on the boat, when they were all together he said to them, I‘Have you any naturalised Germans amongst yon?’ Thinking to put him to the test, one of the reservists replied, “Yes, I am a naturalised German.” The reservist at once found his (hand seized and wrung with effusion by this kindly friend. Thereupon several others announced tbat they .were also naturalised Germans, and every one of them was shaken by the hand and greeted most demonstratively. This, however, proved to be altogether too much for the reservists, whose anger had been steadily rising. They became most excited and then there was trouble. They crowded in upon the man and began to beat him and kick him, till others on the ship had to intervene. Had I* e not ‘ jeen taken away he probably would have been thrown into the harbor, so angry were the reservists, but bis removal saved him from ham.’ ” Madame Boeufve added that when she told the reservists later that she was vice-president ol the Anti-Gei-man League, they said they were proud that a Frenchwoman held snob, a position. At her behest they joined in shouts of ive La France, and “Down With the Kaiser,” and she left them singing. “It’s a Long; Long Waj to Tipperary.” THE LATEST LIST. ' ‘S T ?■ T / ; JT% Admitted to Pont d e Koubbeh Hospital. New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Rifleman R. G. MoLaggan. Army Service Corps. Staff-Sergeant W. F. Hawkins. Medical Corps. Private A. S. Watkins. Admitted 21st General Hospital, Alex- / andria. New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Rifleman D. Roberts. Rifleman W. R. Ellen. Dangerously 111, Walton Hospital. Wellington Battalion. Private A. H. Lange. Removed from seriously ill list. Otago Mounted Rifles. Trooper J. Scott. THE PERSONAL APPEAL IN RECRUITING. Auckland, February 5. The Hon. Mr Allen (Minister of Defence) states in connection with the personal appeal in recruiting that they have a scheme to issue four distinct types of armlets, which are quite easily distinguishable. They had been examined by the Premier and himself, and finally approved and adopted by the Recruiting Board. Armlets will he issued as follows: — (1) Enlisting am] waiting to be called up; (2) Unable to comply with requirements ; (3) Retained in New Zealand for service ;■ (I) Soldier returned from the front. GIFT AUCTION SALE. Acknowledgment of donations for Gift Auction;—J. Davidson £l, J. Buchanan £2. C. M. Young £1 Is. A. W. Reid £5, G. Mcßain £2 2s, A. Matthews £1 Is, J. Martin £1 Is, S. Reynolds. 3 weaners.