NEW ZEALANDERS ATTACKED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17658, 23 June 1919, Page 10

NEW ZEALANDERS ATTACKED

FEELING AT HORNCHURCH. (Fbom Odb O.wn Correspondent j - rp, . .. LONDON, April 25. inere ss evidence about more than one of our camps that the feeling of cordiality winch, was shown towards our troops throughout tho war is" being modified since t&e armistice. This is presumably tho natural revulsion which was very clearly noted after tho Boer war. The only place where it has received open expression is at Homchurch, in Essex, a village which prartically upon tho N.Z.K.F. for more than tnreo years past and has shown the vary greatest hostility to the troops. ~ A few days ago a young man from Chadwell Heath was prosecuted at Romford for assaulting a New Zealand soldier suffering from shell-shock. The accused had hirnsen been a prisoner of war. 'Giving evidence a.t the prosecution Major J. M. Rose, N.Z.SuC, said he was responsible for discipline at the convalescent camp at Hornchuroh where there had been as many as 2000 Now Zealand soldiers. He could not be responsible for what might happen if tho present situation was not firmly handled. New Zealanders could be left to look after ■ themselves if they ran into trouble, but men who would harm no one, as well as thqir wives and sweethearts, had been hold up in the dark and assaulted! The assailants then bolted The men had held a meeting to consider the position, and if he had not interfered-he -was afraid there would have been a riot in Romford arid many innocent people might have suffered. Superintendent Hewlett said the police had passed through a period of great anxiety and he hoped the Bench would deal firmly with the situation. Tho accused was eentenced to the maximum penalty of two months' hard labour.