ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 380, 3 April 1902, Page 2

ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN SCANDAL.

TROOPERS RECEIVE PAY AND THEN DESERT. DRUNKEN TROOPERS. COMMANDING OFFICER RELIEVED OF COMMAND.

By telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. SYDNEY, April 2. There was a sensational development in connection with the departure of the third battalion of the Commonwealth Contingent. The men yesterday hoarded the .troopship Manhattan, anchored down in the harbor.

Prior to departure to-day, rumors were afloat that numbers had deserted and that many others managed to get ashore during the night. •

Major-General Hutton and a Ministerial party visited the troopship Manhattan in the afternoon to bid farewell to the men. They were drawn up on 'deck, and in not a few cases displayed such unsteadiness as to cause MajorGeneral Hutton to severely reprimand them, while others were being helped aboard in a state of intoxication.

Addressing the Contingent, MajorGeneral Hutton said that lie was not satisfied with what lie had heard. Then lie read a very severe lesson on the necessity for discipline. Something had happened he heartily regretted, and which Australia would be ashamed of. He understood that some men, after receiving pay, deserteu. They were liable to he tried by court-martial. He hoped they would be caught and made an example of. In ail experiences of Australian soldiers in South Africa never had there been a single case of court-martial, nor of any serious lapse of discipline in the force of six thousand men. He trusted that the officers and men would realise their responsibility, and maintain their high name for gallantry, good order, and discipline in the field, which were the proud attributes of the Australian troops.

Referring to the shooting of Australian officers, the Major-General said that we in Australia heard the defence only, but he knew and regretted to say, although not officially, a truer version of the tale, and it would be a sad one when published. The speaker concluded : “I wish you cordial good-luck, but for goodness sake remember that you take with you the honor and renown already won iiy Australians, and for God’s sake don’t tarnish it.”

Immediately after the speech a sensation was caused by the announcement that Colonel Wallah, the officer in command of the battalion, had been relieved "of. the command. Major Clarke, second in command, was ordered to take command till the transport had reached Adelaide, where the battalion will take a new commanding officer. The Manhattan sailed in the afternoon] '