ACROSS THE RHINE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16432, 28 January 1919, Page 7

ACROSS THE RHINE.

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS IN

GERMANY

(Spccial from the New Zealand fficial \\ ar Correspondent.)

mi Jauuarv 19. p, ' 10 Gcl ™<in territory across the 1 n llnc .°^ , ' u P' ct l by the New Zealanders ompi iscs, roughly, one hundred and Btnty square miles, and includes the oun of Alulheini, near Cologne, and ifl rr lf lr,u i ac turinfT a nd country viltoes. Some of the best houses have een requisitioned by the different headqua, eis staffs. One brigadier liros >- "ho for t°r 0 of a ? ar 'stocratie baron, tent vit, ° Umo behl S has to be coni lioikp> •«'^ 11S . ? rooms. It is staved ivi, w c ,b l ' le Crown Prince has >- estate n" . silootl "{I on the baron's s nhies nf +) U wa '' s bang many troAn Au,k.and doc*t aua'rtoiwl . us Ambulance staff, is j wlin k 111 the seat of another baron, d J v hlclull y. a»d makes his - j,. s { . UI1( -'-vpeeted tenants welcome to 2 S X t lg ' divisional Headquarters J fictorv ° IS ; u -eni th° world-famous uyc ont!, ™ i Lovoi k usen, which is laid 3 sitv fr. li° 01n bnes, with every nccess taini + /?. llliort ' lwaltll > :wd ontcr- " dnvstnnv,i- employees. It takes i iiln • - mako nn yihing like a compre,i° s 'J e '"spcc-tion of this huge factory, P ro^t;s f°r the year preceding the , ' ,vere said to total five miMion ' ni f],f' S ' lioro ' durin K the latter half i n,i ? '• w< ? re manufactured synthetic f F, 1 ' on °-third of the high explosives the whole of Germany, and poison gasoos that were used amongst us with ->!" ? n ai i? deadly effect. It is perhaps • s well that .New Zealandcrs and not jinadians, with their first experience or poibon gas at Ypres, are in occupaloii hero. On the roof of one of the laetory buildings was paintod a hugo ved Cross. 'I his building was for a wiulc used as a military hospital, but le cross was allowed to remain after , the hospital had departed. In any case, the iact that the enemy planted a hospital in the centre of his high explosive and poison factory in sufficient commentary on his methods. As the piopnetors state they objected to the conversion of their factory to such manufactures, possibly they should be absolved from blame. Two days ago I watched a New Zealand soldier cimib to the top of the dome surmounting the headquarters of this factory, and presently t'le Union Jack was unfurled, •± Proudly flying in the breeze. There it will continue to fly until peace is signed, or the army of occupation is no longer needed. This' temporary occupation of German territory has been an extremely interesting and educative experience J for the New Zoalanders, who are not ■ slow to avail themselves of all the faci uties for sight-seeing. Many liav already visited Bon. C'oblenz, and evei Brussels. Occasionally excursioi steamers carrying thousands of "Dig gors" steam up the Iliiine for a day' sight-seeing. The tramways, wind have ramifications over a widi area, carry soldiers free, and ar< much used by the New Zealanders, Guides take parties round the museum* and sights of Cologne. Shooting galleries and cafes, in which only light wine and beer are sold to troops, are popular, and every night there are packed audiences at the Grand Opera House, where thunders of applause greet the excellent singing and acting of the German actors and actresses. English, French, Canadian, American, and New Zealand soldiers sit beside local residents, and during the intervals gaze curiously at the usual German promenades. Our officers and men are enthusiastic patrons, and the haunting melodies of the "barcarole" in "Tales of Hoffmann," the dramatic scenes in "Rigolotto,"_ and music oi Faust will remain in the memory equally with the grim realities of the Sommo and other battles and the tragic desolation of the Ypres salient. Apart from these distractions, amusements have been plentiful. The Y.M.C.A., whjch is established in: twenty-two localities, runs nightly tea picture and four pierrot entertainments, and the officers make up' shooting parties, for hares, partridges, and even doer are plentiful, and tho game shot provides a welcome addition'to many a mess, especially as we are not allowed to purchase any food locally. But it is not all plny._ Guards and pickets have to . be provided over n wide area, and now that tho education scheme is in operation, practically the whole division is at school again. ' To-day tho German elections are " taking place, and the New Zealanders are bearing their share in the maintonlj anoe of order. A proclamation has . been posted stating that tho military ;; is unbiased as regards political parties, k but mil maintain strict order and dis- \ cipline, so that every man and woman entitled to vote may go to and from tho ballot unmolested. Up to time of . writing no untoward incident has ocf curred in our area, and no trouble is anticipated. Officers, N.C.O.'s, and men of tho '' Division who will ne»ver forget the : magnificent work done by. the Y.M.C.A. in the field, are subscribing to build { a hut in a New Zealand city on the 3 ' lines of the Shakespeare hut in London, costing about two thousand pounds (l as a memorial to those fallen during the war. The Y.M.C.A. proposes, by ] public appeal, to raise a large sum to provide huts in every town in New Zealand. Present funds are not available, as they are earmarked for war work, and any surplus will be disposed of by the Minister* of Internal Affairs. It is proposed to adopt a' progressive policy in the Dominion, embracing something of the spirit that has characterised the Association's war work. Certain dispositions of tho New Zealand Force were made with a view to preventing trouble arising out of tho threatened railway strikes in the occupied zone. The German employees are obiecting to ten, hours a day. At Opbaden, the men who threatened to strike to-day went back, but are working only eight hours.