CANADIANS MUTINY

Evening Star, Issue 16988, 10 March 1919, Page 4

CANADIANS MUTINY

WRECK OAMiP IN NORTH WALES.

RIOT LASTS TWO DAYS*

TWELVE MEN KILLED, " Press Association—By Telegraph—-Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, March 7. The ‘ Liverpool Express ’ (states that there was a not at tho Canadian camp at Rhyl (on the coast of North Wales, about 20 miles south-west of Liverpool). Tho rioters wrecked and plundered the camp, seized ammunition, and fusilladed tho officers’ quarters. Tho riot was quelled by machine guns after two days. Estimates of the lulled vary from five to 27 and from 25 to 73 wounded. The grievance related to pay land demobilisation. The riot in the Canadian camp at Rhyl concerning pay and demobilisation began on Tuesday night, the ringleader crying: “Come on Bolsheviks.'’ One thousand pounds’ worth of damage was done, quantities of food and clothes being destroyed. The rioters attempted to march out of the camp, but were stopped) by machine guns. An officer aeroplaned to the camp to-day, and addressed the men, promising that their grievances would be removed. He said that four transports would shortly ho available. Some of tho rioters captured a dray and became intoxicated. A number of arrests were made. Later details show that 20,000 Canadians took part in the camp disturbances, chiefly owing to dissatisfaction over recent arrivals returning to Canada before men who had fought in France. The rioters overrpowored and disarmed the guards and wrecked the store rooms. Then they found the liquor stores, and went on to fresh excesses. A number of girls wore attached to the camp. The rioters forced an entry into the sleeping huts, and found tho girls in bed. Tho girls cowered before the intruders, who seized their clothes and dressed up in them. No physical harm was done to the girls. The disturbances were continued all night, and when the rioters were dog-tired they went to bed. The trouble was renewed on Wednesday afternoon, and tho camp was reduced to ruin. Beer was handed round in fire _buckets. Drunken ; men parading in women’s clothes raided the ammunition stores, and attacked tho officers* quarters. Wild and indiscriminate firing took place, and a number of men were killed. Many of tho rioters were wounded by the fire of their own comrades. Tho cavalry wore called out, but were not allowed to use their awns. The riots ended at night, when the rioters were exhausted. It is estimated that tho damage done in the Canadian riots amounts to £50,000. There were 12 deaths. March S ’ The rioters at Rhyl included numbers of Russians, who were serving as Canadians. One Russian, who carried a rod flag, fired his rifle, killing a soldier who was writing a letter. Non-rioters fired individual shots. Tho Russian flag-bcaror was the first to fall. OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. DELAY THROUGH LACK OF SHIPS. CANADIANS LOST PATIENCE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, March 8. (Received March 10, at 12.40 p.m.) Tho Ministry of Overseas Military Forces has issued an official statement regretting the Rimmell Park (Rhyl) incident, particularly in view of the splendid discipline locord of the Canadians in the war period. The statement explains that tho Park lias been a concentration area s»nco tui? armistice where troops are sorted into drafts according to their destination in Canada. The failure of tho Ministry of Shipping to furnish sufficient ships to carry out tho February repatriation programme caused great disappointment, and this was chiefly responsible for the disturbance. The Chief of the General Staff has addressed the men at 16 different places, and it is unlikely that there will be further turbences. Fifteen thousand of all ranks are in the camp. Many of the offenders 1 have been arrested, including 12 civilians and three rioters, also two men on picket duty. ’The killed numbered 21, including two officers, and there were many wounded.

TWO STORIES OP BOLSHEVISM

WHAT AN AMERICAN HEARD

An American pressman, accompanying the Peace Commission, in Paris, has cabled two characteristic illustration* of how the Bolshevik doctrine works, saying in his message to Now York : “ Two typical talcs of Bolshevism are going the round in peace circles. One concerns a, stranger travelling on a railway in Russia. Ho was approached by two Bolsheviks, who, following the tenets of the new political faith, insisted upon an immediate division of his wealth, they had 500 roubles each against 6,000 roubles in the possession of tho stranger, asm the redistrilrotion left them 2.000 roubles apiece. The stranger looked exceedingly glum. As they wore nearing Pehrogind, a distinguished -looking Russian hoarded tho train. Again the division was demanded. The noble' had 30,000 j-ouWes, which, on the whole wealth of the party being quartered, gave 9,000 so.;bliss each. ‘ Bolshevism is not so bad,’ remarked tho first convert, ‘since I profit 4,C00 roubles.’ “The other tale is about a Bolshevik woman orator xinpassionately addressing an audience in Moscow. As a climax, she singled out a young mam anti motioned him to mount tire platform. 1 Give what you have to our cause,’ yollod the woman, lie deposited 14 roubles upon the orator’s table, but before he sprang down lie cried out: ‘Now. S’ OU do the sarael The demand was taken -up by the audience, and Jn a belt about tho woman’s waist was found 10,000 roubles. She wept bitterly when forced to surrender the money.”