THE SINGAPORE MUTINY

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 524, 1 June 1915, Page 7

THE SINGAPORE MUTINY

A DRAMATIC STORY. The following narrative of events connected with the riot at Singapore, compiled from a preliminary account drawn up by Mr W. G. Maxwell, acting secretary to the High Commissioner for the Malay States, was issued m London on April 13 by the Press Bureau. The narrative shows that the rising was of a very serious character, but thrown no light on its origin : — Monday, February 15, 1915, was a public holiday. The Chinese New Year had commenced on the preceding day, and a three days' holiday had, m accordance with custom, been proclaimed. As is usual, the holidays were marked by a total cessation of all business m the town, by festivities amongst the Chinese, and by the firing of bombs and crackers. At about 3 p.m. a shot fired from the guard room of the sth Light Infantry gave the signal for a rising. The men outside the guard room collected there and took possession of the ammunition m the guard room, where all the ammunition was stored. What then exactly happened is not yet clear, but some officers of the sth Light Infantry made their way from their quarters lo Normanton camp, which is close by, and warned the Malay States Volunteer Rifles that the regiment had mutinied. The Malay States Volunteer Rifles at once got under arms, and advanced m skirmishing order towards Alexandra mess house. They reached this position without, opposition. Thence they advanced again towards the house of Lieu-tenant-colonel Martin, sth Light Infantry, which was occupied by that officer and a servant only, and came under fire. They made good their advance, however, and succeeded m reaching the house without I . any casualties. — Guard Overpowered. — At about 4.15 p.m. a body of some 100 men of the sth Light Infantry appeared at the Military Hospital and Prisoners of War Camp, Tanglin, and surprised and overpowered the guard of detachments of the Singapore Volunteer Rifles and the Johore military forces. They killed four officers and ten men and wounded two privates, a gunner, and a prisoner of war. Having overpowered the guard, the mutineers opened ,the gate at the entrance to the Prisoners of War Camp, entered the ,camp, shook hands with the prisoners, and fraternised with them. There were 309 prisoners of war m the camp at the time. The mutineers left at about 5 p.m., promising to return later with arms and ammunition. After their departure the prisoners of war went out to pick up the dead and wounded, - whom they brought into the enclosure, and tended to the best of their ability. They also gave shelter for the night to a few 'men of the hospital staff. At about 6.30 p.m. 17 prisoners of war left the unguarded camp. — -Series of Murders. — , Between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. a series of murders was committed m the vicinity of Sepoy lines. The murderers appear to have been two men of the sth Light Infantry. They appear first to have shot Captain F. V. Izard (R.G.A.) m a gharry m Outram road at about 4.20 p.m. The next victim was Major R. H. Galwey (R.G.A. ), who was shot m a rickshaw also m Outram road, near the central prison. The m§n then fired at Inspector Meredith, killing his carriage horse, and wounded two Chinese. They then crossed by the warders' quarters to New Bridge road, where they stopped a motor car containing five persons, of whom they killed Mr G. Wald, Mr C. Smith, and Hassan Kechil (the chauffeur), seriously wounding Mr T. A. Flett, and allowing Mrs Wald to escape, t Dr E. D. Whittle and Mrs Whittle then drove up m their- car, and Dr Whittle was murdered, but Mrs Whittle was allowed to escape. Warder J. Clarke, who came to Whittle's assistance, was also killed. The two men, who had been allowing motor cars containing Chinese to pass ' unmolested, then made their way to the Central Police Staion, where they fired at the Sikh guard They wounded two men. A body of mutineers made their way to ' Keppel Harbor, where they murdered Mr C. V. Dyson (District Judge) and Mr W. J. Marshal], who had declined to turn, their car back when ordered to do so. Mr and Mrs C. B. Woolcombe (m their motor) Were also murdered at this place, apparently for not turning back. Captain N. S. Elliott (sth Light Infantry) was shot on the Pasir Panjang road whilst making his Way (so far as at present known) towards Alexandra Barracks. Mr N. F. Edwards and Mr H. B. Collins were shot whilst walking along Alexandra road. At about 4 p.m. Mr E. ,0. Butterworth, Mr J. B. Dunn, and Mr ,A, Evans were also met on the road and murdered. }

The alarm was. given from the various points attacked, orders were issued to the troops, and a 'message was sent to H.M.S. Cadmus, which landed a party immediately. Pickets were forthwith posted, 1 and ft', party of volunteers was sent to the P. and O. wharf, where a wound-dressing station was formed."

The statement, gives m detail the measures which were taken to quell the riots, , the special constables, whose names had j been taken at th& outbreak of war, ren- ' dering valuable "services. Martial law i was proclaimed, and all Europeans were \ ibrought into the centre of the town from ' the residential area round Tanglin. The ; ■women and children were sheltered at Government House, the hotels, and the ! steamers Nile, Ipoh, Penan g, and Recorder, and the men were enrolled and armed. Beyond some sniping by individual mutineers ' nothing happened durng the night m ; tJie town, ' tihe mutineers appeared at the Prisoners of War Camp, the narrative continues, the detachment of t/he 30th Sikhs, which was quartered at Tanglin Barracks, was without any means of protecting itself. It had arms, "but no ammunition. The men therefore retreated to the Botanical Gardens, where they spent the night. They reported themselves at daybreak to the picket at the head of Orchard road, and were met by Major Thompson at Tanglin, and marched m under him to Orchard Road Police Station, when they •were conveyed m motor lorries to the drill hall. A body of 80 men of the sth Light Infantry, who had surrendered at Burkit T.imab, .Police Station during the night, wa6 met m the early morning and ■brought m to the drill hall. There were also a lafj^ej number of surrenders and captures of small bodies and individuals during the night. The loss inflicted upon the mutineers is not known. The troops behaved extremely well, and the officer m command spoke very highly of them. It is to be noted that the detachment from H.M.S. Cadmus were the only troops m the force trained m infantry fighting. The party of armed civilians showed great bravery, arid avoided bad mistakes. The ■reserve were, at one time under very heavy fire, and if they had not held firm the whole operation must have failed. — Rounding Up the Mutineers. — On February 17 the French cruiser Montcalm, under Admiral Huguet, arrived at 10.30 a.m., and landed a^party of 190 jnen, with two machine guns'. The parfiy advanced; by motor transport, to Seletar

(m the northern part of the island), where a number of. mutineers was said to be located. Before their arrival, however, the mutineers had managed to make their way across the Straits to the Johore nvv>.nland, where 61 of them were captured by the Johore Forces. The casualty returns of February 17 show that 422 men of the sth Light Infantry and 16 men of the Malay States Guides had surrendered or been taken prisoners. The native population of Singapore Island were quiet throughout. Chinese, Malays, and Tamils pursued their ordinary vocations, as though nothing unusual were occurring. I^ate m the evening of February 18 the Russian cruiser Orel arrived, and landed 40 men. On February 19 arrangements were made for rounding up the mutineers, who were reported to be m the Ulu Pandan district.. On February 20 one French column moved from Bukit Timah towards ■the Chapel, and came across nine mutineers. Ona was killed, but the others escaped, leaving their arms, which were captured. On the evening of February 22 614 men of the sth Light Infantry were m custody, and 52 were estimated to be killed, wounded, or drowned m the attempt to cross the Johore Straits. On February 23 two men of the sth Light Infantry, who had been found guilty by a summary general court martial of mutiny and bearing~arms with intent to kill peaceful citizens, were executed.

In a subsequent telegram the Governor reported that all but 11 of the mutineers had been accounted for.