ARMY CANTEENS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 1509, 16 January 1914, Page 9

ARMY CANTEENS.

THE BRITISH SCANDALS.

London-, January 10. Alt Hon; h the name are not known ~f the 16 persons against whom summonses have been privately issued in connection with the army canteen scandals, it is re ported that eight of the defendants are officers and that the remainder are civi Hans, including the manager of a firm of world-wide repute. The remarkable statement is now made that nine of the quartermasters originally mentioned in the charges are implicated. The Court proceedings will commence on the 15th inst., and as no fewer than 200 officers are to give evidence tho hearingwill last a considerable time. Tho prose cution is expected to prove a most sensational one. and to reveal a widespread system of graft-

The Times of November 29 reported that as a result of the special investigation which had been conducted with a. view to testing the accuracy of allegations made in various quarters as to the existence of a system of bribery and corruption in regard to the conduct of canteens in the army, information had been laid before the Army Council, in consequence of which the council had given orders, in the first instance, for the convening of a general court-martial, before which charges would be preferred against the following: —Hon. Major and Quartermaster F. Walker, Guards' Depot; Hon. Captain and Quartermaster J. Fowles, Ist. Battalion Irish Guards: Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster G. R. Burton. 4th Hussars; Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster T. Potter. 3rd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; Hun. Lieutenant and Quartermaster \V. J. Armstrong. Ist Battalion Norfolk Regiment. All these officers passed through tho ranks, and three of them have war services attaching to their names.