The True Story of the KellyGang of Bushrangers Chapter 16 page 2

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While numbers of police were withdrawn from the district just prior to or contemporaneously with Mr Nicolson’s taking charge, the strength of the military who had been guarding townships from attack was very much reduced, 52 constables and 23 soldiers—75 men in all—being taken away from the district. In these circumstances Mr Nicolson arranged privately with certain men of the right sort, to turn out and assist the police in case of an attack, or occasion arising for a sudden pursuit of the outlaws. At Wangaratta, Wodonga, Bright, and Mansfield, there were sufficient police to defend the banks, but not enough to make up a search party, except by combining forces or calling in the assistance of civilians. On the suggestion of Mr Sadlier a complete search party was kept always ready horsed and equipped at Benalla, but nowhere else in the district. To secure places where there was treasure from outrage and thus prevent the Kellys replenishing their coffers, and at the same time to have one efficient body to pursue them, should the apparent weakness of the police tempt them into the open, was all that Mr Nicolson felt himself able to accomplish with the resources at his command. At this time relations were more or less strained between himself and Captain Standish, with the result that Mr Nicolson believed the economies insisted on by the Commissioner were due, at least in part, to opposition to himself; and the conduct of Mr Hare, who never opposed Captain Standish, did nothing to bring about a better feeling between the officers of the police force. Mr Nicolson saw in Mr Hare a tendency to belittle his efforts and to thwart him in many petty ways, such as advising Captain Standish that ammunition was being wasted in the district, Mr Nicolson being anxious to give all the police under him increased practice, as he found many of them quite unable to make any good use of their firearms. Mr Sadlier, who seems to have possessed a fortunate faculty for keeping out of quarrels, worked loyally and amicably with whatever officer was for the time being in charge of operations, but he certainly approved the methods of Mr Nicolson far more than those of Mr Hare and Captain Standish, as did also Mr O’Connor; and when Mr Nicolson went back to the district the three officers gave each other their confidence and help in a manner forming a refreshing contrast to the state of affairs under Mr Hare.

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