A.I.F. AT DARWIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 84, 6 October 1941, Page 8

A.I.F. AT DARWIN

HEAT AND BOREDOM

WEEKEND DISTURBANCES

ARMY PROBLEM

(0.C.) SYDNEY, October 1. A.I.F. troops stationed at Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia, are 'becoming a problem for Government and military authorities. Disappointed at not being sent abroad, they are feeling the effects of tropical conditions, and boredom. At several weekends now unruly elements among the troops have created disturbances in the town. A month ago damage to property and loss of goods amounted to £2000. Last weekend, as has been the case every weekend following their pay day, soldiers overran the town, and their rowdy behaviour caused cafes and shops to close down earlier than usual on Saturday night. After the hotels had closed at 10 p.m. trouble appeared imminent When a fight broke out and many soldiers crowded the main street. Only the swift action of the authorities in driving several heavy Army transport trucks down the street averted a possible serious disturbance. POLICE HELPLESS. Pickets are always on duty in the town, but they are useless because they are unwilling *to take action against the men. There is only a handful of civilian police, and they are helpless to enforce order. At first the townspeople sympathised with the A.I.F, in being kept at Darwin, but this sympathetic attitude is rapidly changing, although it is generally realised that the lawlessness fortunately is restricted to a minority, whose drunkenness and complete disregard of authority are placing the entire A.I.F. in disfavour. The Minister for the Army (Mr. Spender) has realised that the trouble arises from the monotonous life the troops - lead, and has asked military authorities to press on with plans to make conditions as pleasant as possible. He has introduced a system by which all forces stationed in the Tropics, including Darwin, New Guinea, and Papua, will be relieved after 12 months' service. They will not return until a further year has elapsed. IN IT, BUT NOT OF IT. . But there are other grievances of which men of the Darwin and Papuan garrisons complain. They feel that they are in the A.I.F. but not' of it. They enlisted for' overseas servire and it was no iwish of theirs to be retained in Australia as garrison troops. Even that would be bearable if they were given equal status and privileges accorded their brothers overseas, but they are not allowed to describe themselves as returned soldiers, should they be invalided out ot the Army. Relatives are not allowed to wear badges such as are granted relatives of A.I.F. men overseas. The Darwin men are not entitled to wear service ribbons nor are they qualified to join the Returned Soldiers' League. They are not entitled to a pension for any disability caused through service. The pay of the Darwin soldier is the same as the A.I.F. man abroad— 5s a day, plus 2s a day deferred pay from the date of arrival at Darwin— but the Darwin soldier has to pay income tax and the overseas man does not. This discriminating treatment persists, although the authorities told garrison troops that they are as much in the front line as their brothers in the Middle East and Far East.