DEMOBILISATION OF THE ARMIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 91, 11 January 1919, Page 7

DEMOBILISATION OF THE ARMIES

FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE .t 1 . 1 . SOLDIERS ,--- ■ MEN REFUSE DUTY , ' By Telesraph-Prtss AssOciation-CopyriEht ■ . .' .London, January 8. Four' 'thousand Army Service men at Park Royal formed a deputation to the. general," and demanded immediate demobilisation and an assurance that they" 'would not''be sent to Russia. • The general 'Said' ithat tlio men i would be .demobilised.,nt ; the , earliest,..possible moment. .Those.wlio .had work-to go to would be demobilised in a day or "two. , But regarding liussia,' they must obey orders. The men were dissatisfied with the reply, •and', refused "duty. •" They inarched in a body .to Downing - Street; : Staff officers mingled ..with the ,men, urging, them to. return to the.depot. . Eventually an' official from the..Pre-' ■iiiier's : retridence the' iaen to proceed to the Horse 'Guards: where they formed'.a. hollow square. - 'They promptly,,obeyed, an. order. tostand to.attention, yielding,to. several, generals who met the: men. Meanwhile ,tlie .gates, at the Horse' Guards were' closccl, and a strong force-of Mounted ptilice appeared; .'nut.the men were -most orderly -.in' their behaviour. ■ • .

; jjifi .m,e.n .ihen to,ld ..that if, they wbuld .wait, a little, General Sir William Roberteori (in" Coriimand' of' Hie Eastern' division' -bf the,-forces)' "would come .peri* sonally- to 'investigate'-their grievances. General .Eobertsori motored to the scene, and-summoned a-, deputation, which had an-interview lasting, half, an hour. An officer informed' the men that the interview was satisfactory; 'General Robert;soli had''-promised to'sond a' general to Pari Eoyal to investigate the complaints. .The .officer addressing . the: men eoncluded:,l."l,want j.0u,.t0 form iTp-and tro to dinner."' The men"shputed':!'. "What •abbut' the"'terms'? We'are n6t going lilitil-we know therii." - The' deputation told'the men'that General Ttobert6on gave certain, .assurances:, regarding, oversea drafts, and flint the interview was- satisfactory' 'The ; infm cheercd,. and, forsied . iip. .and inarched, back to camp;'..^.':; I .;''' "■ ; s Si.v .hundred nien.at. the Westerliam Aerodrome demonstrated, and conferred with thp- colonel.: Later they .sent a. de-putation-,to IWhitehalt to demand >o be sent 'home pending, demobilisation.—-Aus.-Ji...Z;. Cable ..Assn,' ,