AUSTRALIAN ATROCITIES

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1929, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN ATROCITIES

WAR STORY CREATES STIR

“PAINFUL AND PROVOCATIVE”

SENSATIONAL ALLEGATIONS

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London. Dec. 25.

Were the Australians guilty of atrocities against their prisoners in the Great War is the question brought to the front owing to statements by the Irish-German “poet, Robert Graves, in his brilliantly-written autobiography, "Good-bye to All That," dealing sensationally with the war, in which he fought most gallantly on the British side, and was so badly wounded that he was reported dead. The book, published last month, was immediately criticised by the Daily Mail as painful and provocative. Graves’ words suggest that France and Britain plotted and prepared for the war, and he adds that there was neither patriotism nor religion in the trenches. He declared that if the chaplains had shown one-tenth the courage and endurance of the doctors the British Expeditionary Force might have started a religious revival. , Graves states that many of the officers havin fe two years’ service in the trenches became dipßGP?aniacs; some even worked up to two bottles-oL_whigky daily. He comments on the numerous-TStikides, and adds that executions were frequent, Tbduding two privates who confessed that theyshot a company sergeant-major instead of the platoon sergeant, whom they hated. The French military commander at Bethune, at which place they were executed, delivered a speech eulogising how gloriously the British could die. The book also contains many instances of amazing British gallantry, but, as a foil to these, instances are quoted of alleged atrocities by Australian and Canadian soldiers, who, Graves asserts, had the worst reputation for violence against prisonersJonathan Capes, the publisher, now denies reports from Australia that the book has been recalled owing to the paragraph alleging Australian atrocities. The publishers say they had no complaints from Australia.

The book is selling freely in England.

is now added that Grave? paragraph referring to the "worst reputation” added, “The only thing to’be said was that they were only two generations removed from the days of Ralph Rashleigh and Marcus Clarke,” both of whom wrote of the convict times. He could not decide how far this reputation was due to the overseas habit of bragging and leg-pulling.

Graves relates a first-hand account of an incident at Morlacourt, where the Australians captured a dozen Germans in a cellar, made them turn out their pockets and return to the cellar. They then-threw half a dozen Mills bombs among them. The author’s reflections on Scottish troops have caused violent protests, and, writing in the Daily Mail about the alleged retreat of Scottish battalions from High Wood, Graves says he merely recorded what he had been told. He now finds it is untrue and apologies for reporting the libel. “RIDICULOUS AND IMPOSSIBLE” Melbourne, Dec. 27. Interviewed regarding Mr. Graves’ aspersions on Australian troops, cabled from London, Sir John Monash characterised the statements as ridiculous and impossible. The writer evidently had no idea what he was talking about. German prisoners captured by Australians were handed over immediately to the military police, who escorted them to the corps cages, where they were handed over to the intelligence officer. Brigadier-General Lloyd described the story as absolute rot. Australians treated their prisoners too leniently. “I have seen Germans scrambling past the men of other divisions to be taken prisoners by the Australians.” Brigadiers McKay and Hearne ridicule Mr. Graves’ allegations.