Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-23
rNGhIsn sonpInRs rN MuTlNY.


The Crack Grenadier Guards Refuse to
Obey Commands--They Complain That
They are Overworked and Treated With
scant Consideration.
LONDON, April 2I.-For some years past
there has been feeling Of growing dis
content real or imaginary in some por-
tions of the British army. This feeling it
was supposed came to head about year
ago, when the second battalion of the
Grenadier Guards quartered at Wellington
barracks, near Buckingham Palace, Lon
don, practically broke out into mutiny
and were exiled to Bermuda for so doing.
The general opinion was that this would
call the attention of the authorities to the
complaints of the soldiery, and that the
eventual result of the agitation would be
that inquiries would be made into the
extent and basis of the trouble, and that
steps would be taken to remedy the evils
complained of.
This does not seem to be the case for this
morning there is renewed and great excite
ment in military circles caused by
mutinous demonstration in almost every
particular similar to that which caused
the second battalion of Grenadier Guards
to be sent to Bermuda in disgrace, and
again it is the Grenadier Guards, the crack
infantry gnardsmen of England, the
famous british Grenadiers'' who are in
revolt. The details Of this latest military
disturbance are as follows:
The third battalion of the Grenadier
Guards who are at present quartered at
| Chelsea barracks in this city, were or
dered to parade in full marching order at
s O'Clock this morning. The men, who
have been in sullen frame of mind for
some time past, refused to obey this order.
| The officers of the battalion thereupon
held hurried consultation and the lead
| ing non-commissioned officers we're COM
municated with. The latter in pursuance
with the mutineers and to persuade them
to turn out and parade and not TO bring
more disgrace upon the distinguished
1 corps to which they belonged. The
arguments of the non-commissioned
officers eventually had some effect
| upon the angry privates and after long
| period OF waiting four companies of the
third battalion of Grenadiers struggled
slowly and with every mark Of outward
discomfort out upon the parade ground of
| Chelsea barracks. The remaining COM
panies, however, refused to leave their
rooms in the barracks. After further con-
sultation among the third battalion's Off
GERS and after the officials of the war office
| had been notified of the occurrence, the
Oldest members of the more discontinued
portion Of the battalion, the men having
the longest terms of service were placed
under arrest and an investigation into the
cause of the mutiny was commenced in
order that a preliminary report upon the
subject may he placed before the Duke of
Cambridge, the commander-in-chief of the
forces for long time past.
The mutineers in explanation of their
conduct claim that the orders issued them
to parade i'll full marching order is an UNI
precedented step for their commanding
officer to take upon day when the battal.
ion is called upon the mount guard at the
palaces, &c, on the same day. The men
also declare that they have been long sub
jected to a series of excessive and annoy,
ing drills for which there was no cause or
reason. They assert that these alleged ex-
cessive drills were not ordered with the
view of perfecting the battalion in military
manoeuvres or in the manual of arms but
the men say that these drills were ordered
officers who are enabled to leave Lon.
don to go to the country, travel
on the continent enjoy yachting and fish
ing excursions, hunting trips and other
similar relaxations while the privates and
non-commissioned officers of the battalions
to which these officers belong remain in
London and are subjected to excessive,
tedious drills under the supervision of the
few less lucky Tor poorer) officers who
cannot avail themselves of luxurious ont
ings. In addition the Grenadiers say that
owing to the absence of their second bat
TALON in Bermuda all the recruits of the
Grenadler Guards are sent to the first and
to the second battallons thus necessitating
continued extra drills and consequent
hard work for large numbers of well
trained experienced soldiers who might be
spared this extra trouble and annoyance
if their officers exercised little more
Judgment and had little more feeling fol
the men under their command.