BLOODSHED AND LOOT.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 April 1919, Page 2

BLOODSHED AND LOOT.

BOLSHEVIK INFLUENCES.

CANADIAN CAMP KLOT,

THE KINMEL OUTBRKA|K.

Further details have conn; to banc! by mail of the serious rioting at the Canadian camp at Kinmel, North. Wales, early in March, whereby 12 officers and men were killed, «Jid 20 were injured, one V.C. winner being trampled to death in attempting to quell the outbreak. Writing on March (i from Llandudno, a correspondent

Although their camps are several miles from lie re, the Canadians occupying them are familiar visitors to ithe town. They are high-spirited soldiers —for the most part young fellows, all admittedly eager to get home again after their fighting experiences in France. In a score of more of camps ranging over distant hills are lines of huts which house upwards of 20,000 men. among whom there has been constant coming and going. The trouble, grievances grew with discussion. The outbreak came with startling

unexpectedness, when the camps had on. Tuesday apparently closed down for the night. On the extreme end of the

series a number of men rushed a cantoon and looted stores. It is stated thmt almost simultaneously with this manoeuvre' some of the wilder spirits rushed the neighbouring guard-room, and. getting mastery over the sentries, had no fear of being cheeked in thtir immediate escapade, goods were recklessly thrown out of canteen storss, and liquor was .appropriated, the men afterwards passing to further excesses. Even more serious was the spread of the lawlessness yesterday, "when. 'n the afternoon a disorderly advance upon one of the camps was met by lining up of a firing party. It was

at this stage that casualties occurred. The detachment, with loaded rifles, grimly stood their ground, their officer warning the rebellious mob, which shouted defiance and brandished improvised weapons, that if the forward movement were continued the defenders would fire.

The seriousness of the situation did not appear to be fully grasped by a number of the men. Possibly in the noise made by their companions they may not have clearly heard all that; was said. Still, there was no room for misapprehension. It was obvious that, as one of the soldiers subsequently said, "No rensense was going to be tolerated.'' FIVE MEN SHOT. •As the mob still came on word was given to fire, and the ranks of mis-chief-makers were forthwith broken. Besides an office •, four soldiers of the rank and file lost their lives, and ' about twenty others were more or less seriously wounded. Many arrests followed. It was practically the last incident o fthe outbreak. I am told that many of the men who joined in the disorder simply indulged a weakness for horseplay, while others inflamed with liquor were more ugly customers to tackle. But behind these were some companions of sinister influence who were believed to have deliberately fomented tnc matf attempt to defy authority and order. All this will, of course, be the subject of a military inquiry. A section of the Russian CahSulans have exploited the unrest which exists to spread the spirit of BoTsKeyism. Avowed Bolshevists are at present under arrest both at Rhyl' ana Kimmcl, and numbers have been sent under escort to other parts of the*" c&s^t»y.

THE RED FLAG

On the cry of a section of Russian.

Canadians, "Come on, Bolsneviris,' a body of men, estimated at 200 or 300, emerged from their huts and made sharp rushes in extended .order on tfie huts of other sections. These men. were fully armed. The red flag is said to have been waved, down they began firing at a party which was sent out to repel the attack. Shots were exehange'cl;' but on this point there is an official statement that the shots of the defeuding party were fired without orders.

The revolters appeared to have overcome all opposition and to have car-

ried on a general expedition, of lootaccording to a number of them, was that certain detachments felt they were, not booked for Canada in rotation; they chafed at delay in demobilisation, and ing on the camp stores antT"s&ops just outside the camp.

In connection with these shops, ons of the rumours current is that they* were selected by men for demolition on account of the high prices which have been imposed for goods, and this is among other minor matters which are put forward as having influenced th( men.

There was apparently no attempt at concerted operations by the raiders* Skirmishing was spasmodic, and one of the men killed was shot by a stray bullet while he was taking shelter.