GERMAN MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

North Otago Times, Volume XIV, Issue 542, 26 July 1870, Page 8 (Supplement)

GERMAN MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

A correspondent at Coblents writes : — A. painfal impression has been created here by the following incident. Three soldier* of the lint were undergoing a long period of imprison* ment in the fortress of Ehrenbreitstoin for desertion. They had originally deserted at Saarlouis, and crossed the frontier into France, bat, on lie persuasion of their families, had surrendered themselves to their regiment. Their term of punishment wu men yean, of whioh only six months had expired. Finding their lives, m is asserted, insupportable, they determined to drown themselves on the firitt favourable opportunity as a preferable fate, A few days ago they were employed os the Carthauso, the fine plateau whioh separates the Bhino from the Moselle, and it seemed a fitting moment to attempt their sash enter* prise. One sentry alone was in oaarge of them, and ho witnessed their flight. He immediately fired and brought one victim down dead, the ballet having pasted through his head. With extraordinary sangfroid and determination he loaded a second time, and again flrod with fatal precision ; tilt djoertor fell dead, pierced through the heart. One* more loading he fired at the third fugitive, and ■&• bnilet passed completely through his body, infliotinr frightful injuries to ' his intestines. The anfortanavte mu wm brought to the military lanrettoin Coblentz, where holies in a hopeless condition. In military circles this sad oataatophe is regarded as a fitting retribution for a grave breach of discipline, a Tiew of tho caso not altogether shared in by the civil portion of fba community. Ono thing is oertain, the needln-gun in ths hands of a good narksman is a ten and tarribls weapon/*