THE ALLEGED DESERTER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2862, 29 August 1916, Page 6

THE ALLEGED DESERTER

POLICE VISIT TO CARTERTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Carterton, August 28. Carterton residents were veiy surprised oil Saturday night at a visit from a strong posse of police from Wellington' and a picket of seventy-five men from the Featherston military camp. Inquiries elicited that a rumour was afloat that Carterton people and some soldiers intended to raid the former home of tlie man said to have deserted to the German lines. The arrival of the jwlice and picket was the first intimation that anything ■of the kind was toward. Everything was perfectly quiet and orderly, no demonstration whatever .was made, and the military .picket- returned to. camn at 10 o'clock oil Saturday night. Tlirce police patrolled the grounds of the house where the alleged traitor's parents reside on Saturday night, Sunday, and Sunday night, but everything was quiet. The IX)lice have now left the town. The rumour of a projected, riot did not start in Carterton, the first intiihation here being the arrival of the police.

The Government is considering what additional precautions ought to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents in our forco as the alleged desortion wliich has been brought under notice. Regulations will probably be issued for the tetter protection of the country against tho 'treachery of aliens who may enrol in the force, aid requiring persons in possession of information about, such cases to give it to. the ' authorities. The father of t'ho alleged deserter in quetion is said to be a dairy farmer who has resided in tho one district for '30 years. He is a British though reported not >to be of British birth.