SENSATION AT PORTSMOUTH.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8051, 7 November 1906, Page 3

SENSATION AT PORTSMOUTH.

1 < A MUTINY THREATENED. DISCONTENTED STOKERS. LONDON, November o. The British Navy, as compared ' with the fleets of the other great Po vvers, is extraordinarily free from ' anything like serious mutinies; but ' the rule was broken at Portsmouth 1 yesterday by what threatened J to be one of the most serious outk breaks for many years past. ; The trouble seems to have begun in 3 a misunderstanding with regard to an r order issued to a large force of stokers 3 stationed in the Naval Barracks, and • which the men, in the form in which 3 they understood it, very strongly re--1 sented. 3 Resentment became angei, and ' anger something very near fury, and presently oUO of the stokers set forth 3 from the barracks with the deliberate ' intention of wrecking their otlicers' s apartments.

Word of the men's intention seems, however, to have got abroad, for the whole available force was mobilised against the malcontents, and a guaid wkh fixed bayonets held the gate and prevented all exit. The Commodore then quietlv met the men, heard their grievance, and pacified them, his tact terminating an ugly incident. ANOTHER OUTBREAK. OFFICERS' QUARTERS ATTACKED. POLICE INJURED. LONDON, November The stokers again rioted at Portsmouth, and smashed the oflicers' windows. The liot was followed by stringent precautions, especially supervision of the men returning from leave. Several officers were assaulted and some policemen were badly hurt Large bodies of armed sailors and marines succeeded in arresting hundreds of stokers and getting them inside the barracks. Failing to escape they behaved like madmen, smashing furniture and electric fittings. I b

Latest Cablegrams

[PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATIONCOPYRIGHT].