AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

TROUBLE IN INTERNMENT j CAMP. SO-CALLED "BLACK HAND" GANG. EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY. > Sydney, May 5. The following, cabled 011 Monday, i 3 now available:— A Gorman who made a third attempt to escape from the Holdsworthy- camp was -fatally allot. He boasted that lie would escape or die. The inquiry elicited the information that deceased was a desperate character. He had previously escaped twice. A sentry saw a dark object between the compound fences and filed and wounded the prisoner, ,wlio was taken to hospital, but succumbed. There were further interesting developments in the Portmann inquiry. One witness, who was suspected to foe a member of the Black Hand gang, and was assaulted by the mob, gave evidence that he had previously served six months' imprisonment for receiving 30 stolen revolvers in Brisbano, which he sold in Sydney shortly after the war broke out. He admitted that he received money from other prisoners for the construction of a tunnel.

Julius Blau stated that lie had given small sums to various prisoners.'' He kr.ew of the secret society, which was composed of ex-burglars, who killed a person for 2s fid, and could -point them out, but it would be dangerous to do so.

Other -witnesses declared that plenty of rich men in camp were blackmailed and beaten. A Lutheran minister was included.

The coroner's attempts to discover the actual participants in iPortmann's death were unavailing. Witnesses appeared to be afraid, and only gave evidence under pressure. One was imprisoned for refusing to answer questions.

PRISONERS IN TURKEY. A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. Melbourne, May 5. 'Mr. Pearce has received a communication through the American Ambassador at Constantinople from prisoners interned at Kiangui, Asia Minor, including 4a Australians and New Zealanders, asking for regular supplies of money in order to augment the meagre food supply-

A LIVELY MEETING. CONSCRIPTION DEMANDED. Melbourne, May 4; There were wild scenes at a public meotinc in the Town Hall, under the auspices of tlie Australian Natives' Association, in favor of conscription. A number of returned soldiers resented interjections from a group of anti-conscrip-tionists, several of whom were roughly handled and ejected. Serious trouble was averted by the speakers singing the National Anthem, which had a magical efl'ect.

A motion was finally carried that the meeting was of opinion that the needs of the war. could no longer 'be met by voluntary service, and urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to fully utilise the service of every citizen and the resources of the Commonwealth until the conclusion of the war.

IBRICE OF BRAN AND POLLARD. i Melbourne, May 4. Owing to the fluctuations in the price of bran and pollard, the Federal Executive has approved of regulations empowering the Cabinet to fix the price.