Advertiser – January 1915

DREADFUL AFFAIR AT BROKEN HILL
TWO FOREIGNERS RUN AMOK
RIFLE SHOTS FIRED AT A TRAIN
FOUR PERSONS KILLED AND SEVEN WOUNDED
MURDERERS SHOT DOWN DY AVENGING PARTY

Broken Hill, January 1.
One of the longest and most crowded picnic trains that has left Broken Hill carried those who set out with light hearts this morning to attend the annual picnic of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows at Silverton. The train left the Sulphide-street station at 10 o’clock … with about 1,200 picnickers… When the train was about two miles on the way to Silverton… an ice cream cart, with a flag flying on it, was noticed on the northern side of the line, close to the railway fence. The flag was red, about l8 inches square, with a white crescent and white star – the flag of Turkey. Two men were also seen crouching behind the bank of earth … These men attracted the attention of Mr. M. Kenny, who was a passenger on the train… He then saw that they had rifles in their hands, pointed at the train. Almost simultaneously he saw and heard the rifles fired. The firing continued during the whole time the train was passing. The two men fired20 or 30 shots in all.

Killed on the Spot.
The men, being so close to the train, could be plainly seen to be either Turks or Afghans. As they were flying the Turkish flag, it was assumed that’ they were Turks, of whom there are several in Broken Hill…

The Turks after their attack on the train, moved off towards the west of Broken Hill, and were followed by their armed pursuers. After shooting another man on their way they at last took cover in some rocks a few hundred yards west of the Cable Hotel… Soon there was a general rush towards the spot from the town, mainly by civilians, mostly present or past members of rifle clubs and members of the Citizen Forces… There was a desperate determination to leave no work for the hangman and to run no risk of the murderers of peaceful citizens being allowed to escape. It was not a long battle. The attacking party was being constantly rein-forced by eager men who arrived in any vehicles they could obtain or on foot. At just about 1 o’clock a rush took place to the Turks’ stronghold, and they were found lying on the ground behind their shelter. Both had many wounds. One was dead and the other expired at the hospital later. They wore the dress of their people, with turbans on their heads. The police took charge of the bodies…
Saturday 2 January, p15

SMALLPOX.
THE RUNIC OUTBREAK.
A CASE AT PORT ADELAIDE.
PASSENGERS AND CONTACTS QUARANTINED.
…arrangements were made to send the patient, his wife and family, as well as contacts, into quarantine at Torrens Island. Mr. and Mrs. Le Ray and their six children were conveyed to the island on Thursday night, and preparations were made for the reception of the passengers who had landed from the Runic and other contacts.
Saturday 2 January, p15

IN THE TRENCHES
A SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CADET
HOW HE WAS WOUNDED

Private Alfred Hughes… of Solomontown, who was the first South Australian to go with the British Expeditionary Forces to France in September has been wounded… He writes the following thrilling account to his parents: –

Buried Alice in trenches
I have been sent back to England because of a wound, having been shot through the hand… We went into the trenches about 5 o’clock… At 6 o’clock the Germans began to use their big guns and their shells were dropping in our trenches all day. Twice I was half buried… my mate got hit in the eye with a bullet. You should have seen the poor chap. The wound was not noticeable from the front but when I turned him over after he had fallen I saw that half the back of his head had been blown off, and his brains were hanging out…

Water continued to rise in the trenches all the next day and by night time it was up to our knees. We had to stay in it for four days… When we least expected it, the Germans charged us… When the enemy was nearly on top of us we got the order to fix bayonets and charge… I can easily say that I did for at least 14 Germans… I was about 30 yards from the German trenches when I got shot through the hand. A week later I was taken to hospital in England…
Thursday 7 January, p8

SOLDIERS PHOTOGRAPHED FREE.
It is every soldier’s duty to have a faithful and permanent portrait of himself before leaving for the front. To enable him to do this without cost to himself

THE MORA STUDIOS, 53 Rundle street,

are photographing members, of the 3rd Contingent Free of Cost. The negatives will be preserved so that copies may be had at any period.
Friday 8 January, p12

IN FEMALE ATTIRE
…on Monday evening [Constable White] arrested the fellow in the south eastern part of the city and conveyed him to the City Watch house. At the Police Court this morning he will probably be charged with being an idle and disorderly person. The accused, who is only 19 years of age, … and when taken to the police-station admitted that he was not a woman, that he was in women’s clothes. Kimble was well and stylishly dressed… It is understood that he has deceived several young men for some days and has been treated to motor car and motor cycle side car rides…
Tuesday 12 January, p7

UNEMPLOYMENT
DISTRESS AT PORT ADELAIDE
MEN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT
A PROMISE OF SOME WORK
A deputation representing the unemployed of Port Adelaide made an appeal to the Commissions of Public Works on Wednesday morning for public works to be put in hand in order to relieve the distress at the chief seaport… There were such works as the crossing at Croydon, the West Croydon railway-station and the remaking of Port Road, which could be pushed on with at once.
Thursday 14 January, p9

OPENING OF THE WILLUNGA RAILWAY
The new railway to Willunga will be formally opened today by his excellency the Governor. A train for the convenience of the public will leave Adelaide at 10 am and arrive at Willunga at 11.43… A special train will leave Willunga during the morning o convey school children as far as Brighton and back in time to witness the opening…

Wednesday 20 January, p6

AUSTRALIA’S FAIR FAME
WASTERS IN THE FORCE
SOME NOT FIT TO BE SOLDIERS

Too much liquor
The last week has been one of some anxiety to those who have the good name of Australia at heart. Cairo is one of the great pleasure resorts of the world, and a place where the soldiers in any neighbouring camp can always have a reasonably enjoyable time during their hours of leave … but certain scenes have occurred and have become more common during the past few days which go a good way beyond that and are already effecting the reputation of Australia in the outside world… There truth is that there are a certain number of men… who has not got the moral qualities, however splendid his physical qualifications may be, is apt to do more harm than good.

There is only a small percentage – possibly 1 or 2 per cent – which is really responsible for the occurrence about which Cairo is beginning to talk… there is in the Australian ranks a proportion of when who are uncontrolled, slovenly, and in some cases what few Australians can be accused of being – dirty…
Friday 22 January, p6