SERIOUS.DISTURBANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1943, Page 4

SERIOUS.DISTURBANCE

IN PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMP IN NEW ZEALAND Japanese Internees Attack Guard 48 DEAD AND 63 WOUNDED ONE NEW ZEALANDER LOSES LIFE SIX OTHERS ALSO REPORTED INJURED (By Telegraph—-Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day.. The following statement was issued by the Prime Minister today:— “A serious disturbance occurred in a prisoner-of-war camp in New Zealand on Thursday, following upon the refusal of a large number of Japanese prisoners-of-war in one compound to obey the orders of the camp authorities. The situation finally resulted in the prisoners, who had armed themselves with stones, tools and other improvised weapons, rushing and attacking the guard. After a warning shot had been fired by the officer in command, the guard thereupon fired oh the prisonersofj.war, with the result that forty-eight were killed or later died of wounds and sixty-three were wounded. Two officers and five men of the guards were also injured, one guard having since died. “The unfortunate results of the incident are to be regretted but in the circumstances firm action bn the part of the guards was necessary to quell the riot and restore order. None of the prisoners-of-war escaped and the camp was soon normal and has since remained quiet. “<Ah official inquiry is being held immediately. In the meantime, the injured men are receiving all necessary medical attention. ’ ’