TROUBLE AT PORTSMOUTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8320, 28 December 1906, Page 5

TROUBLE AT PORTSMOUTH.

DISAFFECTION IN THE NAVAL ! BARRACKS. DISCIPLINE RIGOROUSLY MAINTAINED. LONDON, December 25. There are fresh signs of disaffection in the Portsmouth naval barracks. An officer, on going his rounds, found a number of hammocks unpacked. A first-class petty officer, who was in charge of the room, was disrated. 111-feeling ensued among the few remaining in barracks. They were not connected with the recent riots. When Commander Sinclair was inspecting the canteen a seaman coughed obtrusively. He was arrested and put in irons, and subsequently sentenced by Commodore Galloway to forty-two days' imprisonment for incitement to disorder and disrespect. Some also sentenced to fourteen days in the cells for giving untruthful evidence.

The whole of the men in the barracks were paraded, and warned that discipline would be drastically maintained. A hundred marines were ordered to be in readiness in the event of an outbreak. Several stokers were discharged as undesirables. MEMORANDUM BY THE OFFICER IN CHARGE.

LONDON, December 26,

Commodore Galloway, successor at Portsmouth to Commodore Stopford, who was relieved of his command as a result of the Admiralty's enquiry into the November riots, has issued a general memorandum.

The Commodore notes considerable improvement in the personal appearance, alertness, and general smartness of his new comrades. He says he feels the most perfect confidence in their manliness to assist him and Commander Sinclair in making Portsmouth Barracks the first naval depot in the world. He considers every individual under his protection, and especially under his protection, and therefore shielded in regard to justice.

He adds that he has no partiality for one body of men more than another. The touchstone of all his acts is the defence of the country by, preparation for war, and whether a man is a bluejacket, a stoker, or A marine, the Commodore regards all with an equal eye as warriors. Yesterday Portsmouth was quiet.

The hope is expressed that the issue of the memorandum will remove ariy misunderstandings.

t The memorandum started with these words: —"The Commodore addresses every man, without exception, as he well knows that among so-called bad characters many have only made a slip or two, or perhaps have 'a spice of the devil' in them, but whom he would be only too glad to 'have with him when hard blows were being dealt."