Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-08
$4,000 CANADIANS /
in FATAL RIOTING
Eight Killed, Many Hurt in
Outbreak Over Delayed
Departure Home
WOMEN'S CARB TAKEN
Much Property Destroyed.
Official Flies From London
TO Placate Mutineers


| London. March S,-Fifteen thousand
/ Canadian soldiers at the KinmeI Camp,
Rhyl. Wales, roted on Tuesday because
OF delays in shipping them home.
There have been other riots in the
last three days. From eight to twenty
seven persons are reported TO be dead
and from twenty-five to seventy-three
wounded
News of the riot, which is one OF the
most serious military disturbances in
Great Britain since the beginning of the
war was suppressed until last night
Great property damage was done, ac-
cordng to a Liverpool dispatch received
here.
Offi,iais Explain
An official statement issued by Cana
dian military headqua rters today in ref
erence to the riotinE says it is regretted
some of the accounts of the fighting, in
which Canadian soldiers took part, eS-
aEgerate the seriousness of the incident.
but gives no details of what happened
Ii Is explained the lack of shipping
facilities to take Canadian soldiers back
home is due partly to strikes. and that
the dissa tisfacton of the soldiers over
alleged preferential treatment in en-
barkations may be attributed to the fact
the men have been divided into sections.
according to the Canadian military dis
Itricts from which they came. BY this
means some shorter service men were
sent home ahead of some who had been
under arms longer period.
a special court of inquiry has been
ordered TO conduct an investigation.
An early official statement said:
Tuesday and Wednesday 900 Ca
madam soldiers riotcd at the Kinmel
camp, Wales. because OF the delay in
their shipment TO Canada due to the
shortage of ships
Three of the rioters aud two pc<ets
were killed and twenty.one wounded, in
cludng two officers
The riot leaders. including twelve
civilians, were arrested. The early COM
munication denies the report that a ma
jor decorated with the Victoria Cross
was killed.
Rioters All Oid-Timers
According to latest reports from Liver
pool the riot was started by about 200
indictments. There were $4,000 Canadi-
ans in the camp awaiting demobilization
and embarkaton. The men who caused
the trouble were war casuals who had
served for three years or more in France
They complained that their embarkatiGn
had been postponed while other men
who had seen less service were sent
home.
After the destruction OF stores of all
kinds or Tuesday by the discontinued
men, the situation took n more serious
turn On Wednesday. when the cavalry
was called out, but was forbidden TO use
its arms
Troops from Chester Intercepted the
rioters in their march upon Abergele
near Rhyl' and also prevented a threat
ened raid on the latter place. Five mer
were killed and forty injured in the
course of this fighting, it is reported
There was further promiscuous shoot
ing early Thursday morning, but at n,
time was there organized firing by any
armed party. Most Of the deaths wcr,
due to crushing. It is said
The Daily Mail says that the Canadian
authorities restored order without III,
assistance of British troops. and de
clares that the matter is solely one for
Canadian disciplinary action.
The Canadian officials have informed
the war office that they do not desir,
any increase in shipping facilities as Z
consequence of the outbreak, as they dc
not intend to be coerced by the action Of
the rioters. II is said that twenty OF
thirty of the ringleaders. most of for
eign extraction, have been arrested b,
the Canadian authorities, co-operatiii,
with the civilian police. Il is under
stood that these men will be brought tC
London and lodged in the Bow stree
station.
Later Thursday numbers OF the met
paraded Rhyl. They made noisy demon
strations, but committed no damage
The outbreak began Tuesday nigh
with the signal cry, Come on Bolshe
wiki :" uttered by a man said to beonl
to the Canadian forces A large number
of men then wrecked the stores building
and thousands OF loaVes OF bread wer.
trampled into the mud The woment
auxiliary quarters were then rushed anC
the womens clothes carried off. Th'
! rioters seized stores of ammunition. flrec
on the officers quarters and then begaI
. a march in the direction Of Abergele bu
were held up.
A staff officer few from the war Office
In London by airplane and addressed th'
men, undertaking that their grievance!
regarding rehabilitation and pay, whicl
p caused the outbreak should be immedi
ately removed. He declared that 0.00t
> men would be away by the week afte
p next, and that four transports would b,
placed at the disposal OF the colonials.