CALCUTTA REVELS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 13 June 1942, Page 3

CALCUTTA REVELS

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS Calcutta, April 2. Australian troops recently celebrated their visit to Calcutta in an overexuberant manner. They did not understand the local rule banning the sale of beer by the military canteens I in certain circumstances to anyone under the rank of sergeant. So they sought refreshments from less i reputable sources. They staged an ! escapade in which a circus pony plus : many yards of red carpet were the main properties. One A.I.F. man. taken before tlie magistrate, was discharged with a stern I warning. In token of his appreciation i of this clemency, the soldier presented the magistrate with a handsome marble clock. Two days later Hie police were ini formed that a marble clock was missing from the mantelpiece of the city's ! leading club One newspaper, which mildly criticised the A.I.F. men's behaviour, was visited by a deputation of Indian sol diers who had fought beside the Aus- : tralians. They told the editor that the A.I.F. men often shared their comforts and hampers with the Indians in Libya, and were fine fighting comrades, whom the Indian people should entertain in ; stead of leaving them to entertain themselves. Meanwhile the editor received letters : written on behalf of Fnglish Tommies. unfortunately not publishable, urging i that canteen restrictions should be lift-