A sensational development has oc curred in connection with the depar ture of tho third battalion of tho Commonwealth Contingent. The men yesterday boarded the troopship Manhattan, anchored down the harbor. . Major - General Hutton, Federal Commandant, and a Ministerial party visited the Manhattan this afternoon, to bid farewell to the contingent. The men were drawn up on deck, and in not a few cases displayed such unsteadiness as caused General Hut ton to severely reprimand them, while others were being helped aboard in a state of intoxication. Addressing the contingent, the Commandant read a very severe lesson on the necessity for discipline. Some thing had happened, he said, which he heartily regretted, and which Aus tralia would be ashomed of. He understood that some of the men, after receiving their pay, deserted. For this they were liable to court martial, and he hoped they would be caught and made an example of. in all his experience of Australian sol diers in South Africa he had never had a single case for court-martial, nor any serious lapse of discipline in the force of 6000 men. He trusted the officers and men would realise their grave responsibility to maintain the high name for gallantry and good order and discipline in the field which had been the proud attribute of Aus tralian troops. . Referring to the shooting of Aus tralian officers, General Hutton said we in Australia heard the defence only; but he knew and regretted to say that, although not officially in formed, he believed there was a truer version of the tale, and it would be a sad one when published. He con cluded, “I wish you cordial good luck, but for goodness sake remember you take with you the honor and renown already won by Australians, and for God’s sake don’t tarnish it. Immediately after this speech, a sensation was caused by the announ cement that Colonel Wallaok, officer commanding the battalion, had been relieved of the command. Major Clark, second in command, was or dered to take command till the trans port reached Adelaide, where she would take on a new commanding officer.
