THREE “BIRDS”

Grey River Argus, 10 February 1942, Page 5

THREE “BIRDS”

WITH ONE SHOT i Sydney Sentry Arrested BUT ARMY OVER-RULES POLICE. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 11.0) SYDNEY, Feb. 9. 'rhe shooting of two men and one woman by a sentry guarding one of Sydney’s well-known beaches is reported. The men and the woman went on the beach in darkness, following a visit to a night club. One bullet from the sentry’s rifle wounded one man critically in the abdomen. also wounded the other man in the foot and wounded the woman in the thigh. The police took the sentry to ai police station to obtain a statement. The police wanted to impound the rifle. A military officer, however, ordered the sentry to go back to his post with his rifle. I A controversy has ensued. The 'police claim that, until martial law is proclaimed, police officers are jusI tilled in arresting any member of • the forces. The police say that the military officers have exceeded their I powers in demanding the release of the sentry involved: The Army says that, in no circumstances must a sentry allow himself to be disarmed. It adds: — “This is wartime. These are not peace time manoeuvres, and all weapons, in times of war, are ready for instant action.” The general opinion in Army circles is that if the military authorities allowed civil action to be ! taken against the sentry in this case no sentry in future would fire a shot.