R.A.A.F. TROUBLE AT MADANG

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24801, 15 February 1946, Page 5

R.A.A.F. TROUBLE AT MADANG

Men Said To Be On Verge Of Mutiny

BUILDINGS SET ON FIRE

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 9.25 p.m.) SYDNEY. Feb. 14. Reports that 2000 men of the Royal Australian Air Force at Madang, New Guinea, are on the verge of mutiny as a result of boredom and anger at not being brought back to the mainland are current in Sydney. The "Sydney Sun” says that, according to an authoritative source, a hand grenade, which did not go off, was thrown into the Royal Australian Air Force commander’s quarters at Madang, that the army store and hospital records building were burned down, and that an attempt was made to fire the command house headquarters. The "Sun’’ says the men flatly refuse to handle explosives, though warned that refusal renders them liable to treatment as mutineers. The position has arisen because of the death and injuries to transit personnel pressed into service in bomb disposal squads. A mass meeting was called for last Saturday, but the provosts intervened. The men have told their officers that they wish to be placed on charges so that they will be returned to the mainland.

Sabotage is so serious that civilians refuse to travel in Royal Australian Air Force aeroplanes, according to another report.