THE FREEMAN EPISODE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13856, 12 June 1919, Page 5

THE FREEMAN EPISODE.

A SECOND HUNGER STRIKE

(15y Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian ami N.Z. Cable Associa*ion) SYDNK-Y, Wednesday. Freeman has started :: second hunger strike, taking' only lemon juic,. and water. lie declares that water docs him no good, while the iemmi ;juii-e will make his blood poorer. |-'rceiiii[!i, who was .sent L'rom tlie Commonwealth as aJi undesirable, was rejected by the American authorities and sein )>ack to Sydney. A huge meeting in tin , Sydney Town Hall, held on .1 line Ith, passed a motion calling upon the authorities to release Freeman, a.nd asking all connected with the sailing ol' tin , Sonoma t<> refuse duty until this had been effected. A crowd of several Ihoiisands marched to ihe wharf, demanding Freeman's release. Some of' the crowd raided several shooting galleries en route, seizing the ritlos, but after the announcement was made that- Freeman was being taken ashore the crowd dispersed. Four persons were injured during the tight with the police.

Suhsequentlv the authorities decided to remove Freeman from the steamer Sonoma. X big crowd watched, the removal ot' to the garrison hospital at the Victoria. Harracks pending the decision of the" Minister for Defence. Freeman broke his self-imposed fast when informed that he was to be removed, but was very weak after several t'oo'iless days. He had to be carried out i>ii a. stretcher. The .Minister for Defence promised Mr Tudor and other Labour leaders that the Cabinet would give consideration to their request for a fre.e trial for Freeman.