Australia.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 270, 24 April 1915, Page 5

Australia.

LOOTING IN NEW GUINEA. PARLIAMENT INTERFERES WITH THE MILITARY. Melbourne, ApvM, 2<\ In the House, Mr. Austey moved that ! instructions be given by the Governi mont for the immediate release of five I privates of the German New Guinea . force now undergoing sentences of three , to five years' penal servitude imposed , hy a court-martial at Rabaul. It is 'a!i leged that distinctions were drawn be- - tween officers and men, and that there E had been minor eases of looting by the i men, but that ship loads of officers' loot i had left Rabaul. f Mr. Jensen explained that the men • sentenced were all guilty of robbery ex--1 copting one, who was 'guilty of receiving ? stolen goods. One was a. case of rob- - ber\] under arms from a German Catholic missionary. On the advice of the Attorney-General the sentence had been commuted to hard labor. The Minister decided that at the end of six months the sentences should be reviewed with a view to the remission of part or whole of the unexpired portion. Since the men had been sentenced they had made alleg- < ationa fiat others, including officers, - were concerned in the looting, and had I made sworn statements which were placL ' ed before the court sitting at Sydney, - which would obtain evidence on which the - trial of several persons would take place '" shortly. : Mr. Fisher declared that an end ol f the military forces would come if Par's liament directed that the men should a be released from imprisonment imposed s by a court-martial. o The motion was withdrawn on fie •• Minister's assurance that everything was 0 being done to clear up the whole matter. e If your property is not insured, •.•:■ It i- at or ring up the United Insurance Co., i- Ltd., Currie Street; telephone. 100. .!. -- G. Spedding, district agent. Insurances effected on the most favorabls t«nns.