CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 25

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

THE FOURTEEN MARTYRS. (Feom Oub Own Corbespondent.) WELLINGTON February 23. _ An attempt has been made to arouse public sympathy in favour of the 14 conscientious objectors who were shipped on a transport one evening many months ago and taken away from Now Zealand. It is being suggested, rather than said outright, that these conscientious objectors are high-prm-ciplod young men whose consciences will not allow them to fight. A long statement has been issued by the Defence Department to show that they are not and never have been anything of tho kind'. It should be understood that objectors can, and are in practice, divided into three classes: (1) Religious objectors, who hold to certain sects, whoso creeds are against the bearing of arms; (2) conscientious objectors, with real consciences; and (3) defiant objectors. Tho religious objectors are housed in detention camps, doing work for tho agricultural Department. The real conscientious objector is almost as easy to dfcal with and he does not embarrass the authorities at all. The difficulty is with the defiant objector, of whom Mr. Holland prates, and he ;s miscalled conscientious. These defiant youths give no reasons for refusing to serve. They disobey all commands, and as soon as it is evident that a man means to persist with his defiance he is tried by a military court for his first offence. By this oourt he may be, and usually is, _sent_ to gaol for a considerable terms of imprisonment. What is not generally understood is that imprisonment does not release any objector from hi? obligations to serve, and he may be taken beck by the military authorities at the expiry of his sentence or before that time. This party-of 14 "martyrs" were taken on board a transport in custody after dark, this being done chiefly for their own »akes. Their next-of-kin were not warned, and 't is admitted that this was a mistake. Three cf the men.were left at Capetown, by dirceii'.-n of the Cape military authorities, for isolation. The 11 others went to England in two other transports. They refused to do anything for themselves on board, and iboir quarters and their bodlies became filthy, wherefore they had to submit to forcible cleaning. Th:s was an indignity, but one which most people will consider was ouito well deserved. They arrived in England still diefiant, and they were at length taken to France. General Godley would not agree to follow the practice recommended by two other generals, their recommendation being that tho men should be sent'forward to the fighting front like other soldiers. He thought that the men would either desert or refuse duty in the face of the enemy, for which the penalty is death. He was so sure that they would be shot that ho would! not make martyrs of them, and so he saved their lives. His latest report is that all the objectors save two' have accepted service as infantry stretcher-bearers.- The other two at the time of this last report were at Etaples. SIR JAMES ALLEN OUTSPOKEN. WELLINGTON, February 25. .In a statement given to the press, the Minister of Defence enters upon a lengthy vindication of the department's treatment of anti-militarists. Ho corrects an impression which is general in the public mind that all objectors are "conscientious" objvctors, and points out that the only objectors recognised by law as "religious objectors" are those whose appeal would be allowed if they proved that on August 4, 1914. they were members of a religious body whose doctrines declare the bearing of arms and tho performance of combatant service to be contrary to the divine revelation. After explaining and justifying the treatment of objectors sent abroad, the Minister concludes: —"The question of the treatment of anti-militarists presents a clear-cut issue for the people of this, country to consider—(a) Whether tho. laws solemnly and deliberately enacted by Parliament a-re to be observed; or (b) whether defianeo of the law is to be permitted, and those persons who know no rule but their own inclinations are to be practically exempt from military service, while the eitizens and sons of citizens who recognise and obey the law are to serve and possibly suffer wounds and death in the interests of the nation. Tho military authorities are responsible for administering the Military Servico Act, and what they have done has been legally done. It is not conceivable that the people of this country would approve of a course permitting persons who set the law at defiance to be absolved from the law, and be governed by their own inclinations. If. lesponsiblo authority is to knuckle under to insubordination, the whole fabric of tho British Empire will crumble into chaos."