LYING WAR BOOKS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 April 1930, Page 7

LYING WAR BOOKS

DANGER TO THE EMPIRE COMMISSION SUGGESTED. WRITERS SHOULD BFJ CROSSEXAMINED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright..) Received. 2.30 p.m. to-dav. LON DUN. Apri l 25. “There was no is cope for drink and immorality on Qa-llipoLi; oiny for immortality,” declared Sir lan .Hamilton in a feeling reference to the raging controversy on war books at, an Anzac Day reunion at Australia. House.

“Those who want, m mi-slinging had better go 60 miles .to the base at Aludros, where, as a, civilian wrote home to Australia, “the officers are wallowing in ice, with wounded soldiers dying of thirst haretby,” and where another, referring to the ship Aragon in Mudros ; Harbour, said: ‘So much whisky was drunk aboard that- she grounded upon her own empty bottles.’ Luckily a Royal commission of inquiry proved these lies.

“It would be better for tlie holding together of the Empire that there .should be a Royal commission to inquire into the Western front, rather than that stories of suicide, murders, drunkards, executions and immorality should he unchecked. Then some of our clever writers would go through tbe mill of public cross-examination.” Sir lan Hamilton said that be was impelled to make these remarks because “shockers” confronted the Empire with a grave danger. England’s overseas; sisters had been wonderful and had allowed their husbands 1 , brothers, ancl sons to- risk death and wounds for the -sake of the- Motherland, but they would refuse -A third’ time if they risked demoralisation a-s well -as disablement. , The reunion was arranged by Dr. Alary Booth and wm-s atended by Sir Granville and Ladv Rvrie, the AgentGeneral. and the Test players. Sir Tan Hamilton conversed with the cricketers, particularly with Oldfield, the only ex-digger.