THE PORTSMOUTH TROUBLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8282, 8 November 1906, Page 5

THE PORTSMOUTH TROUBLE.

FRESH RIOTS.

OFFICERS ASSAULTED.

PROPERTY DESTROYED.

HUNDREDS OF MEN ARRESTED

THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE' Received November 7, 8.13 a.m. LONDON, November 6. There was a fresh disturbance among the stokers at the Portsmouth naval barracks. The riot was followed by the imposition of stringent precautions, especially in connection with the supervision of men returning from leave. The windows in the officers' quarters were smashed, and the officers assaulted. Several policemen were also badly hurt. Large bodies of armed sailors and marines succeeded in arresting hundreds of men. The stokers inside the barracks, failing to escape, behaved like madmen, smashing the furniture and electric fittings*' It seems that the first trouble was caused by an officer keeping the fnen on parade an unnecessarily long time during a deluge of ram. The men at last bolted tor shelter without waiting to bo dismissed. The officer thereupon ordered a parade in the gymnasium, and, hearing some insulting remarks from the stokers, ordered the front rank to kneel in order to see the rear ranks. > The men at first refused, and the order was repeated. All knelt except two. One of these declared that he would bend nis knee to God alone.. An attempt was made by the men to leave the barracks, but it was frustrated. Commodore Stafford released the arrested stokers, and, after an enquiry, announced that the matter would be dropped."

RINGLEADERS IN CUSTODY.

Received November 8, 12 31 a.m. LONDON, November 7. Nearly nine hundred stokers in the barracks are concerned in the recent disturbances. Four hundred'liave been drafted into ships. Thirty of the ringleaders are in custody. , « The men on leave complain that they were locked out without) laggings. They declare that the demonstration outside was merely a demand for admission.