THE NEW ZEALAND DESERTER.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13660, 31 August 1916, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND DESERTER.

rURTHER DETAILS.

(For Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 28. In consequence of certain reports which reached the authorities on Saturday, a force of police, supported by a body of artillerymen'from Pcatlierston Camp, proceeded' to one of the Wairarapa districts to maintain order in the case of a threatened demonstration against the'family and property of the man whose identity was suspected, in connection with the case of desertion at the front. On their arrival a considerable crowd of people, had assembled and there was evidence of some exciteineiit, but nothing happened.

Tlio Government is considering what additional precautions ought to be taken to prevent a recurrence' of such unfortunate incidents in,our force as the alleged desertion of a man "from Carterton. Regulations will probably be issued'for the.,licttor protection of the country against the treachery of aliens . "who may enrol in the force and requiring persons in possession of information about such eases to give it to the authorities. The present position with regard to the charge, of desertion is rather ludicrous. AJo official.announcement has been given of the man's name but a strung force of police and military have been detailed to protect the homestead of his parents. Even before the police eanic'it was generally known in the district that the supposed deserter was their son. The father is a dairy farmer, who has resided in the district for thirty years. It .does not . appcai that they are in danger of molestation by the residents, but probably this authorities fear that soldiers from .camp might have other ideas.' If the sßldicrs should docidc to wreak misguided vengeance! on tlio'''properly or' 'person of the parents the problem facing the Government will be no easy one. Will it continue to keep an armed-guard over the place or will it intern the man for his own safety? The latter would seem to be an easy solution, but it WOIIM still leave the .man's property open to destruction, and how could the carrying on of his farm bo arranged for? The father has done no wrong. He, is a British subject, although reputed not to be of British birth, and if the law on the point is to be preserved and followed he ought not to be made to suffer loss. CARTERTON, Augusts. There was a great surprise here on Saturday night at the visit of a strong force of police am] 'a military picket,. Tho rumour of a projected riot did'not start at Carterton, the first intimation being the arrival of the police, and the military picket left on Saturday night, The police patrolled until Sunday night the grounds of a house where the alleged traitor's parents live, but everything was quiet and the police have .now left the town.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE INCIDENT. (l'cr Press Associnlion.)

AUCKLAND, August 28. A detailed description of the circumstances of .the desertion 'of a soldier in the New Zealand Expeditionary. Force is given in a letter from' Private J. Jack, df Auckland. Writing from a London hospital, he states: "It was owing to the treachery of a German bom in New Zealand that our casualties were heavy at the end of June and the beginning of duly. 'He was acting as a stretcher-bearer, and had obtained a good deal of information as t» the location of batteries/etc. His ruse was rather clover. Looking over a parapet,, he made out that he saw someone ly'ui"in No Mali's Land, and said that he would investigate. The riieinbors of his platoon thought him the. essence of gameiiess as he hopped over our parapet and crawled out. WJieu about halfway between the lines he rose, and, ••waving a white Hag, bolted to the German line. I'Jveryone was so surprised thai lie was .over the enemy parapel before a shot was fired, From then on we were bombarded with deadlv effect' :