LOOTING AT RABAUL

Waikato Times, Volume 84, Issue 13187, 29 May 1915, Page 5

LOOTING AT RABAUL

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST OFFICERS. THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ASKED FOR. Received May 28, 8.10 p.m. MEL3O (JUNE, May 28

In the House, Mr Anstey renewed the allegations of looting at llabaul. Ho claimed that the officers prevented the soldiers looting and themselves 'carried on wholesale robbery. Loot occurred on a large scale from the top to the bottom, and the men simply did what they saw the officers do. The responsibility rested on those controlling the expedition. He believed there would always he looting in connection with war. The only honest thing was to let the sentenced men out of gaol.

Mr Fisher declared that the Government was a-clean Government. The matter would not be allowed to rest there. A soldier had no right to loot, and it was the duty of the commanding officer to shoot him if it was not stoppable in other ways. He denied the statement that no court-martial could be trusted to try the culprit. If an officer had done wrong he should he treated more severely than the soldiers.

Mr Cook suggested that a committee of members of {he House or a Judge should investigate the whole business. Mr Jensen said the Government must take immediate action to sift the allegations. He would never rest till this was thoroughly done.