Australia

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 24, 3 May 1916, Page 5

Australia

PRISONERS" MUTIN?. SENSATIONAL* DISCLOSURES IN NEW ' ''BLACK ■HAND" SOCIETY FORMED. ■ ■?■■'■■'< "' • j**'jr : '; ■- NUME«OUS »l?« Tit LTS. .■ *>■ v' ■', ''"' "' pj*»^ner.' - • U!HT»n PSEBP AHOOTATrON. (Received 9 a.m.) Sydney, May 3. Sensational disclosures were made at the inquiry into the death of Hans Portmman, a German prisoner of war at Holdsworthy Camp. The Commandant gave evidence that numerous brutil assaults had been committed, itV •. one .eqjnpound, and men had to be taken-'to, ;the hospital Suffering from broken.' whs and fractured iskdils. He • was informed that the outrages were ttie'Vresult of the formation of a "Black Hand" society, consisting of thirty or forty members, who threatened the lives of moneyed and influential persons if they did not pay, A political orgr*nioation existed in the camp, having been instigated by inuential people for the furtherance of their political ends in camp. When they were done with the president, they clubbed him over the head and fired him out. Several disturbances arose on April 19 culminating in two thousand prisoners armed with cudgels maltreating several so-called members of the : "Black Hand", society. Four of these, who were covered with blood and gravel, having been thrown over the compound gate, were picked up and taken to the hospital. One, Portmman, died a few minutes later. The Commandant stated that he could not prevent the affair unless he shot a number of the Germans, which would be inhuman, as they were prisoners, but thereby the authorities would be ridding themselves of the criminal element. He had since in* terned fifteen suspected members of the "Black Hand" and the disturbances had ceased. *

FLOUR FOR THE ALLIES. (Received 9 a.m.) Melbourne, May 3. Negotiations are proceeding with the Imperial authorities to purchase two cargoes of flour for the use of the Allies. ANNUALER PENSIONS, £190,079. (Received 11.15 a.m.) Melbourne, May 3. The number of War Pensions granted to the end of April, total t>266, incurring an annual liability of £199,079.