The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-21
GO ON
Strike Al SYDNEY.
Australian Authorities In
clined to Take Serious
View Of Escapade.

i 81 d.
SYDNEY. Australia, Feb. 1e.-(cor-
respondence Of The Associated Pressl
A recent riot at Sydney In which
some 1900 soldiers were involved can
be called by no other name than
..mutinys in the official view Of sena-
tor Pearce, the Minister for Defense.
who expresses his belief that trouble
among the Australian recruits has
been inspired by enemy gold and IN
duence@
Newspapers IN Sydney and else
where, however, attribute the out
break to long continued failure by the
defense department to see that war
time discipline Is maintained at the
training camps.
(some details OF the riots at Sydney
have already been learned through the
arrival Of steamships at San Francis
CO, but the following celebrates and
confirms previous 5adyices)
The troops involved in the mutiny
were from the training camps at Cas-
u1a and Liverpool, near this city. The
trouble was due primarily to an order
from the Inspector-Gene of the
Commonwealth forces, Major-General
]. w. McCay, increasing the number
of hours Of weekly drill from 36 to-
40 10, This order was issued from
Headquarters at Melbourne, and was
Immediately received with poor grace
by the recruits at the two big train
ing camps. The order was to go into
effect on the morning Of February Ia.
On that morning 5000 men marched
out OF the Casula camp, which is about
25 miles from Sydney, on what they
called o strike" It Is assumed that
the military guard at the camp was
not strong enough to offer resistance.
In any case the Casula men marched
to the nearby Liverpool camp and IN
duced about 10000 men to join in the
"strike" Although considerable
number of recruits at both camps re-
fused to Join in the mutinous proceed
inps. the leaders OF the strike" were
followed by a big majority Of all the
recruits.
The first trouble occurred in the
town OF Liverpool where. before noon:
large bodies OF soldiers had wrecked
two saloons, drunk much liquor, ana
taken practical possession Of the place.
The trains from Liverpool to Sydney
we're seized by the soldiers, and they
kswarmei into Sydney during the rest
OF the day. The men at first contented
themselves with paradtng in military
formation. but later they bagan to
"rush" trolley-cars, commit pretty loot
ing. and frightening women and chill
dren. By evening the situation had
become serious for the majority OF the
men had become intoxicated. The city
police were called out to their maxi
mum strength in both foot and mount
ed men and attempted to enforce a
special order for the closing Of ga
looms. The police were unable to
cone With this situation. however, and
armed regulars were brought from
the Casu1a and Liverpool camps.
In the early evening the rioters
stormed the German club. Although
that Institution was closed by the au-
thorities some time ago, the men wan
tonly stoned It, and broke into many
other buildings. A large number OF
arrests were made. Finally a party OF
.'strikers" attacked number OF sol
ldier.pickets stationed at the Central
kRailway Station. The rioters were
1rst to fire, using their revolvers, and
the ptckets returned with rifles. AS
a result of this clash a cavalryman
from Qeens1and was killed and eight
other recruits seriously wounded.
During the night the regular sol
dfers succeeded in getting the recruits
back to their respective camps, having
arrested the ring leaders. Some Of the
latter were dealt fifth ieniently with
short jail sentences, but the principal
ones were taken in hand by the MILL
tary authorities for court martial.
Keen regret was felt in Sydney ana
ali over Australia because Of the NUT.
inous conduct of the recruits. Appre:
lhensfon was felt lest the reports OF
the trouble should be exaggerated
1 abroad, and for, a time the censorship
prevented any account Of the occur
rences.