DDeserted To The Enemy

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 August 1916, Page 3

DDeserted To The Enemy

!',[{ of \ WKI/UMJTON HATTAMON. Auckland, I,ii.st Night. 'I lif -Makura brings tin* fro.ll the New Zealand If era Id '.s London correspondent, under date July L.'J. ■ "Tt ih not pleasant to have to mention any Khortcominij; oil the part of any ot' tlie soldiers who have made New Zealand's name famoius and respected ill the war, nor would a person setting out to lind causes of complaint against nnr soldiers have found it a very easy task. Their conduct has been almost without blemish, and the verdict of the people of England coincides with that of distinguished commanders who have praised them in the field. Tt is tliis fact whicli makes it almost a

duty to state the circumstances undei which <uiu limn wen ring the New Ziealaml uniform proved false to lii.s oaths and untrue to his salt, bringing: not only disgrace but nlso minor disaster in tlio field upon His comrndes. The niiin referred to linn been posted in orders as dismissed from the service, having deserted to tlie enemy. "Unlisted from Wellington province in an infantry battalion, his refold of conduct was not altogether Jiood, ami in June lie caiine under disciplinary punish men t for misconduct,. -He appears to have (smarted under this correction and to have set his mind upon 'getting even' with his superiors, even at the expense of the lives of his comrades. Oil the night of the last Saturday in .June his battalion wa.s iu the trenches, and the brigade command was makins complete arrangements For launching a giis attack against the (iermnns. The man continued to sulk, and he saw in these preparation a change of getting bis revenge. About 'i o'clock in the morning, apparently when things are usually at their quietest, be escaped from Ills comrades and stole out past the wire into No Man's Land, and before anyone could realize his intentions, bad made good his escape mm the German trenches. There are more or less artistic descriptions of how this was effected. Otio story is that be rati at the top of his speed across the ground, carrying a white handkerchief a.s a token of surrender, and his comrades only realized lu's intention in time to send a few bullets after him before hr got over the Bosclie parapet. The Minister for Defence has probably received official accounts which will enable him to say all that is known. At any rate, there is no doubt that tlie traitor made good his (".scape to the enemy, and there fs equally 110 doubt that he gave them information highly prejudicial to our own plans, for with daylight the Herman guns, which bad paid 110 particular attention to our front line for some days, commenced a hot bombardment of our trenches, inflicting considerable casualties on the 'New Zealanders. and, further, by / shelling headquarters, upset the plain* for a gas attack, which had to be abandoned. All parties agreed that this iis substantially what occurred. "The only bright spot in the whole miserable story of the soldier's treason is the fact that the traitor is not of British extraction. Though brought up in the Dominion, he is. I believe, not eren a hyphenated New Zealander. inasmuch as both liis father and mothc are from the Continent of Rurope. one of thorn being German. Possibly tlr may assure, him a warmer welcome iu the Fatherland that he would ever again receive in New Zealand. "The case is a very painful one and the traitor's comrades feel most keenly the slur cast upon their battalion."