JOKE ON TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 170, 18 July 1919, Page 8

JOKE ON TRANSPORT.

TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY BRITISH OFFICERS. | ALLEGED BOLSHEVIK MOVEMENT. SYDNEY, June 27. j An incident in connection wjfth the return of the troops on the Devanha has caused much amusement among officers; and men. By way of lessening the boredom of the long sea journey, with the approval of the authorities a sham parliament was elected by the men and held regular debates. For reasons of discipline questions of religion and controversial Australian politics were excluded from discussion, but otherwise the speakers had a fairly free field. One wag, in mock solemnity, moved that the men should seize the ship, land on one of the tocos Islands, and there establish a new republic. The programme which he unfolded included the inter- , cepting of other troopships and compelling the men on them to join the newcommunity. Other speakers joined in the joke; the - project was discussed with great gravity. • and ultimately carried by a large ! majority. There the matter ended, or would have i ended, had it not been for the presence or. board of two '"dud" British officers, : who apparently took it all as quite serii otis. They left the ship at Adelaide, and. 5 so the Devanha people relate, immediI ately reported to the Defence Department r that there was an alarming Bolshevist ' movement on board the ship, which the -i officer in command made no effort to ? I check. f| They seem to have found someone very ? gullible in the department, for when the "ship arrived two detectives were waiting M for her. to rind out the details of the M subversive happenings on board. They 'l*oon discovered that they were on a j fool's errand, and joined in the laugh. 1 against themselves. M