TURKISH SNIPERS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 113, 26 November 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

TURKISH SNIPERS.

The Turkish Sniper (writes an East Lancashire Territorial from the Daidanclles) rarely works in couples, lie goes to ground in a most elaborate dugout that rarely gives itself away from any point of view. The site usually chosen is a small clump of brushwood. This is mofct carefully excavated in the centre, all traces of earth cleared away, and here, with unlimited ammunition, and, maybe, a week's supply of food, our specialist in quick death seats himself like some huge spider in a web, the strands being replesented by carefully-measured, rnsig-nifieant-looking natural objects, past which men continually move. He rarely lets loose a shot at any greater number than two. Others again colour their faces and rifles to match the bushes they are> screened by; more, until the ruse was discovered, dressed themselves in the uniform oi one of their victims, but in every case they display a very high type of courage, in voluntarily sitting in the midst of their enemies, as a man whose pal h;i6 been laid low rarely shows mercy to the man who did it. ' Our little party had not moved more than #0 yards out when was potted on the left. One of our men pointed out a group of bushes from which lie thought this shot came, and the sergeant-major said:—"Bight, we will move on as if the blighter wasn v on the earth at all, and mind you keep your eyes skinned. 1 don't want another casualty." A forward move was made. Our little party at last got within decisive range of'the sniper's assumed quarters, s,nd a most careful search of the position was made, but it proved a blank draw. We were now in "dead'' ground. Suddenly the old "chock-aw" of the sniper's rifle was heard again, and the scream of a bullet overhead came from a point half-right to our advance. A riderless horse dashed into view; French, by its trappings, and a search revealed an old artillerist, with a bullet through liis shoulder. Our party had got rather riled, and on topping the small ridge a couple of shots were put into the tree used as a descriptive point earlier in the morning. A move was made to it; and there, fastened securely in the brandies to give free use of the rifle without any danger of falling, with a bullet through his head, was our sniper. He had answered the call.