CATCHING A SNIPER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144850, 30 November 1915, Page 7

CATCHING A SNIPER.

BETRAYED BY NICE TEETH. Somewhere in France, October 23. We got a beast of a sniper this morning (writes a Central News correspondent), and tho manner of his taking was rather curious. His teeth betrayed him. Wo are about 800 yards from the nearest German trench, and, like ail regiments, we suffer a good deal from want of good drinking water. About half a mile to our immediate rear is a small stream, and wo used to steal out at night for water. But we wove constantly sniped. Two of our men had been wounded, and two others only just missed, and the firing came from somewhere behind our lines, A day's close search revealed nothing, and meantime there was no water, and our chief was getting savage and sarcastic. So early this morning, just before dawn, we threw out a great loop of men, and gradually boat inward, but found nothing but a shapeless old French farmer driving his riding plough for potatoes. We questioned him, hut he flew into a rage because we were trampling over his beloved ground, and ordered us off. Many of our men speak French, and worried trie old man, but ho knew nothing of an “espion,” and “sacred thunders, would we get off Ills field, or must ho complain to tho general, who would bo just?” We could do nothing but leave, and our subaltern reported to tho chief, saying that the old; farmer had gnashed his teeth at us, and “jolly fine teeth, and clean, too,” pursued the sub., reflective! v. "What,” snapped tho chief. “Mr. Jones, you will take a couple of men and go carelessly to this old _ farmer,engage him in conversation whilst your men pin him from behind suddenly. I don’t want to lose mon capturing a dangerous sniper with clean teeth.” Enlightened and feeling rather ashamed of himself, the sub. turned away, got a couple of men, and secured, the old farmer. Oh. hnt he fonght like a tiger, and the three men were rolling over and over on the ground for some time before he could be safely tied. Hq was a young man, and A search revealed a belief rifle cartridges and two automatic pistols of German make. Later in the day we found a little dug-out in a ditch, with a. rifle hidden away under a screen of brushwood.