QUARANTINE BROKEN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15752, 26 February 1919, Page 6

QUARANTINE BROKEN.

TROOPS LEAVE CAMP, THE SYDNEY INCIDENT. MARCH THROUGH THE CITY. SYDNEY, February 13.^ The manner in which a large body of troops from Die transport Argyllshire defied the authorities and broke quarantine has been the sensation in Sydney during the past week. The main facts have already been cabled. Three transports were unloaded in Melbourne, and the Now South Wales men from all three, after being allowed to roam Melbourne at will, were brought together in the transport Argyllshire and taken to Sydney. The Federal quarantine authorities called the ship clean, but the State insisted on .a couple of days more of quarantine. Just before the ship was due for release a case of pneumonic influenza developed aboard, and seven days’ quarantine was ordered. Then the men—who had been subjected to varying periods of quarantine ail the way from Fremantle, and who were now within sight of home, broke loose. They took possession of the ship, and before order could be restored three boatloads had lauded. Forty men thus got clear, but the police went vigorously in chase, and nearly ail were caught. The main body of these men was landed at the quarantine station, where they were .promised a “comfortable camp.” Instead, they were turned loose on a scrub-covered, snake-infested area, given bundles of tents and blankets, and quantities of bread, raw meat, tea, and milk, and told to shift for themselves. There were no sanitary conveniences, and they bad to go a quarter of a mile for water. Next moiling they formed ug, marched out of the quarantine area—the guard at the various gates fell back before their formidable numbers—.and proceeded, via Manly, to the city. The military authorities, very wisely, did not try to stop them, but instead provided another camp for them at the Showgrounds. This they finally entered, after much argument, to undergo three more days of quarantine. Rioting was expected. Instead, these 1000 men, before breaking quarantine, placed themselves in charge of their non-commissioned officers, and their march through the city was extremely quiet and orderly. They tehmselves took all precautions to prevent contacts, and would not allow any of their number to mix with civilians. Nearly all were men of long service, and the gold stripes which signify wounds were frequent. A great proportion of the men bore the ribbons of decorations. One of the leaders had the ribbons of the D.C.M., the M.M., and the Servian Cross. The men bitterly contrasted the reception which they expected and what they received. “I thought we’d travel in motor-cars,” said on© man, “with bands and things. Instead, here we are footslogging, under police escort, and not a cheer anywhere.” The men who got away in boats from the Argyllshire had curious experiences. Two encountered a picnic party and told their plight. Women helped thdm, and, disguised in women’s clothing, they got into the city and wandered about for hours. Then, realising their helpless situation, they threw away their borrowed garments, and gave themselves up. Two men got as far as Newcastle. One was received in his native suburb by a Welcome Home Committee, including the Mayor. Suddenly the nolice appeared, arrested the man, and isolated the whole committee and other's present —who did not know the man had broken quarantine—as contacts. They were released later on, on condition that they reported themselves at regular intervals.