The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-07-21 00:00:00

THE CAMP AT ALDERSHOTT

DISORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE GERMAN
LEGION.

The ill-feeling between the Jagers and other troops at
Aldershott has been increasing for several days past, and
to such an extent has it now spread, that the military
authorities have been compelled to draft off nearly the
whole of them to other quarters. Last Sunday evening an
instance occurred ; when some twenty of the Germans
were returning after a walk quietly and orderly to camp,
they were set upon by a number of our troops, who were
well prepared with sticks and bludgeons for the encounter.
Yesterday, as we were passing over the temporary pon-
toon bridge thrown across the canal, some of the engineers
standing near it exclaimed, " here's two Jiggers
coming, let's destroy the bridge." The " Jiggers "
were two mounted officers. For much, if not the
whole of this ill-feeling, manifested towards them,
the German troops are themselves to blame A con-
flict which took place on Thursday and Friday evenings,
originated by the Ist Regiment of Jagers, the same
which created a disturbance previous to its embarka-
tion, and which, in the dialect of Aldershott, " mutinized
on board the Transit on their way to Scutari. The regi.
ment arrived at camp on Thursday, when hostilities com-
menced between them and the English Rifles, with the
result of two of the Rifles seriously wounded, and several
casualties among the Jagers. Which of the parties were
to blame in this affair we are unable to say. On Friday
evening a more general engagement ensued between the
parties. At the north end of the camp there is a large
canteen, to which large numbers of the men resort—it is
called the Carpenters' Arms. Several of the Germans
were drinking in this place, when one of the men of the
Highland regiment—the 93rd, we believe—entered. Some
remarks, made not in the best spirit by the Jagers,
roused the feelings of the Highlander, who retorted upon
them with some allusion to the " dressing " which they
had got the night before at the hands of the Rifles.
Quick as thought, the conflict became a general melee.
During three or four hours the conflict was waged with
vigour on both sides; not an article of furniture in;the
huts, not a piece of fencing, nor anything which the fury
of the fight could suggest as a weapon of offence was
neglected. Early in the fray the Germans seized the
medals and clasps of several of the men, broke them in
pieces, and trampled them under foot. At length the
arrival of a number of the German light cavalry approach-
ing in a threatening attitude, led to a mutual cessation of
hostilities, the whole of the parties inwardly resolving that
the truce should be but a short one, and that the attack
should be renewed on the first favourable opportunity.
General Knollys on hearing of the disturbance, started off
immediately for London, made a report to the Commander-
in-Chief, and received authority for the immediate removal
of two thousand of the Germans, who left the camp yes.
terday morning at six o'clock, and were conveyed to
Colchester. We learn, moreover, that of the men conveyed
to the hospital, four, at least, were actually killed in the
fight. It is not our fault if this number is exaggerated,
but several eye-witnesses informed us that they saw at
least four men who were killed, one having a bayonet
thrust through his chest. In consequence of the disturb-
ance, the 41st Regiment was confined to camp during the
day. All now is perfectly quiet at the camp.