MILITARY PRISONERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 November 1918, Page 4

MILITARY PRISONERS.

PLAY UP IN A DETENTION CAMP. • LIKE A WILD-WEST DRAMA. Some military prisoners (says the Wanganui Chronicle) think that now peace is at hand they'will be released from gaol. Perhaps, before long, however, they will realise that they will have to serve their full sentences. It is the "after war" period that will be hardest for conscientious objectors and Red Feds to bear. Lately, at the Waipukurau camp, which is an offshoot of the Wanganui detention barracks, there has been a tendency to kick over the traces. Men are sent there for such useful work as roadmaking to returned soldiers' farms. One day, a week or so ago, a squad of men took it into their heads to refuse to march to work. A conscientious objector was the ringleader. The scene which followed must have been something like a wildwest drama. Argument being of no use, the guard pulled out his revolver and fired into the ground behind the man. He jumped about two feet'into the air, and thereafter his conscientious scruples troubled him no more.

All the men, however, were railed back to Wanganui, where they quickly came to their senses, and were sent to camp again. On Wednesday evening, four other men arrived back for having declined to do certain work.