CANADIAN CAMP RIOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17140, 21 April 1919, Page 6

CANADIAN CAMP RIOT.

THE KINMEL OUTBREAK. BLOODSHED AND LOOT. BOLSHEVIK INFLUENCES. Further details havp come to hand by mail of tho serious rioting at the Canadian camp at Kinmel, North Wales, early in March, wheroby 12 officers and men were killed, and 20 were injured, one V.O. winner being trampled to death in attempting to quell the outbreak. Writing on March 6 from Llandudno, a correspondent says:— Although their camps are several miles from hero, the Canadians occupying them are familiar visitors to the town. Iney are high-spirited soldiers — the memt part young fellows, all admittedly eager to get home again after their fighting experiences in France. In a score or more of camps ranging over the distant hills are lines of huts which house upwards ot 20,000 men, among whom there has been constant coming and going. The trouble, according to a number of them, was that certain detachments felt they were not booked for Canada in rotation; they chafed at delay in demobilisation, and grievances grew with discussion. The outbreak camo with startling unexpectedness, when the camps bad on Tuesday apparently closed down for the night. On the extreme end of the series a numbor of men rushed a canteen and looted stores. It is stated that almost simultaneously with this manoeuvre some of tho wilder spirits rushed the neighbouring guard-room and, getting a mastery over tho sentries, had no foar of being checked in their immediate escapade. Goods were recklessly thrown out of canteen stores and liquor was appropriated, the men afterwards passing Co further, excesses. Even more serious was tho spread of tho lawlessness yesterday, when in the afternoon a disorderly advance upon one of the camps was mot by the lining up of a firing party. It was at this stage that tho casualties occurred. The detachment, with loaded rifles, grimly stood their ground, their officer warning the rebellious mob, which shouted defiance and brandished improvised weapons, that if the forward movement wero continued the defenders would fire The seriousness of the situation did not appear to be fully grasped by a number of tho men. Possibly in tho noise made by their companions they may no't have clearly heard all that was said. Still, there was no room for misapprehension. It was obvious that, as one of the soldiers subsequently said, " No nonsense was going to be tolerated.'' Five Hen Shot Down. As the mob still came on word was given to fire, and the ranks of mischiefmakers were forthwith broken. Besides an officer, four soldiers of the rank and filo lost their lives, and about twenty others wore more or less seriously wounded. Many arrests followed. It was practically the last incident of the outbreak. I am told that many of the men who joined in the disorder simply indulged a weakness for horseplay, while others inflamed wJlh liquor were moro ugly customers to tackle. But behind these were some companions of sinister influence who were believed to hive deliberately fomented the mad attempt to defy authority and order. All this will, of course, be the subject pi a military inquiry, A section of the Russian Canadians have exploited the unrest which exists to spread the spirit of Bolshevism. Avowed Bolshevists are at present under arrest both at Rhyl and Kinmel, and numbers have been sent under escort to other parts of the country. The Bed Flag. On the cry of a section of Russian Canadians, "Come on, Bolsheviks," a body of men, estimated at 200 or 300, emerged from their huts and made sharp rushes in extended order on the huts of other sections. These men were fully armed. The red flag is said to havo been waved. Kneeling down they began firing at a party which was sent out to repel the atftack. Shots were exchanged; but on this point there is an. official statement that the shots of the defending parity were fired without orders. Tho revolters appeared to have ovorcomo all opposition ana to have carried on a general expedition of looting on (the camp stores and shops just outside the camp. In connection with these shops, one of the rumours current is that they were selected by men for demolition on account of the high prices which have been imposed for goods, and this is among othor minor matters which are put forward as having influenced the men. There was apparently no attempt at concerted operations by Hie raiders. Skirmishing was spasmodic, and ono of the men killed was shot by a stray bullet while he was taking shelter-