TRAITORS AT GALLIPOLI.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1916, Page 3

TRAITORS AT GALLIPOLI.

6WIFT RETRIBUTION. Masterton, January 14. In a modest, quiet way, that young hero of the Dardanelles, Corporal L. Caselberg, D.C.M., who has been in-, valided home, has many stirring tales to tell of the operations on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Corporal Caselberg can tell of the ramifications of the German spy system and its operatious among the colonial troops, On one occasion, he relates, a ser-geant-major who joined the Australian forces at Sydney, was handling the ammunition to a certain gun which was in action, and it became conspicuously noticeable that the discharge from this gun repeatedly fell short and landed in trenches held by the Australians. The whole affair was wrapped in mystery for a time; no matter what was done the shots always fell short, and that gun was roundly cursed ,by the men in front, who had no suspicion of foul play, and who put the matter of the charges falling short down to 'had shooting. Then it was noticed that the sergeant-major was handling the charges in a peculiar way. He was watched by the officer in command of i:\\e gun, and as the sergeant-major was in the act of handing over another charge for the gun he was quickly seized, and examination showed that this traitor was nipping a portion of the fuse off, thus causing the shot to hurst short. Needless to say, he got a short shrift, the retribution being sudden and swiftly executed. On another occasion, states Corpora) Caselberg, a big Sikh was walking along when he noticed a soldier intently enI gaged in inspecting some shells. Creepj ing closer the Indian saw plainly that this man was tampering with the shells in a way that would produce the .most serious consequences for the. troops who had occasion to use them. Stealthily the Indian crept up behind the soldier at the same time drawing his sword. Unsuspectingly the traitor continued his work. There was a sudden swish, an Indian exclamation, and the traitor's head rolled down among the shells he was tampering with. Corporal Caselberg did not actually see this incident, but it was common talk among the Australians and New Zealanders, and could be vouched for as correct. The 'traitor had also joined one of the Australian contingents.