LAST GREAT PUSH IN FRANCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16436, 1 February 1919, Page 9

LAST GREAT PUSH IN FRANCE.

a matter of fact story,

(speciallt written for "the tress. )

(Bt a New Zealand Soldier.)

Tlio tale 1 want to tell here represrnts my own personal experiences during the lost three months. It is precisely typical of the life and experiences of any man in the Division who fought with tho infantry. It aims at showing those hack at home how their own boys aro living, and what goes to man an "officio! communique." Like all "Soldiers of tho King," we of the peaked felt hat have passed! through many vicissitudes since tho Main Body pullod out from the wharf a t Wellington. It wasn't all roses in the Gallipoli days, what time Sir lan Hamilton issued his dispatch to tho Anzacs to "hold on" 1 In the Armenti&res days we sat in trenches exchanging raids with the Hun. and read in the papers of Lord, Kitchener's death ; of o,al strikes in [England, and of Roumania's collapse. We read of the Russian steam-roller tliat rolled forward and slipped back, and always the boys I kept cheerful. j Since then we've had our turn at Ypres and tho Passchendaele stunt. We just pull out and rest, get reinforcements, have a review, and go on with the game. What ancient history all that jpems nowl One can scarcely £0 back in memory to those days, since tho hannenings of the last three months seem to overshadow the whole picture. The time in March when we advanced into action at Mailly Mallet and stopped the Hun at Oceanvillers, and subsequent happenings on tho Hebuterne sector, have all passed like a dream. Wo roally oommenced to make history three months ago, in those far-off days when we had a quota of Yanks attached to us for practical experience. Once we'd settled down on tho Hebuterne sector we started business on tho tiuii in earnest. Daily programmes of artillery shoots were fired, raids were put over into their lines, and generally we kept the Hun busy. . But the occasion on which Sergeant IKck Travers won his V.C. perhaps marked definitely the start of real trouble for the Hun in our immediate vicinity. That was the occasion on which the Huns were driven oiit of Rossigriol Wood. It was about then, too, that Foch took over the Supreme Command of the Western front. Following upon this, the Huns began to evacuate trenches on the Hebuterne sector. We did our first stunt in the big fight by taking the Pussieux Laire ridge. In this show we were told we had; done well, and in due course made preparations to he relieved and get back for » rest. We really imagined that tho N.Z. Division had done tneir bit* and would) rest on their laurels for the rest of the fchowl . _ My diary begins with what happened to us from that time up till the present. As a history it will he extremely incomplete ; as a diary of an ordinary infantryman, who went right through unhurt 'until the middle of October, perhaps it wfll contain sufficient interest to readers back in New Zealand: to justify Its existence.

On Sunday August 18th. we were relieved. Guides and billeting parlies had preceded us, and when we arrived at the huts at Coinenx about 10.30 p.m., preparations had been made by tho Quartermaster'B Staff for our comfort. It had been a long, trying march back, but the prospect of a rest put everyone in fine form, and you may depend no one fell out. marching down. The following morning wo held no parades, bub all kinds of preparations were put under way for a pleasant spell out. Officers inspected their companies' feet, dothing, and equipment; messes . were arranged, sports committees appointed, and everything, including the weather, pointed to a really pleasant spell. In the afternoon a cricket match between two companies got under way. To see the batsman taking centre, and to watch the field cross over wnen "over" was called, one quite forgot that there was a war an at all!

But alas! for the best laid scheme Df the season! Trouble was scented first when a runner came on to the field, calling the officers away to a conference. The game proceeaed t but the interest was divided. Thmgß finally "blew out" when the runner returned ordering everyone to stand by in billets.

By evening everything was packed, and we were under way. Tho greatest care was taken not to give away our move. No lights, no shouting orddiß and absolute silence on the march. That night we bivouacked in the Bois de ——. So much then for our rest!

The following morning saw everyone Toosy making preparations; and the preparations left no doubt as to what we were in fori Mapa were issued, S.A.A. increased, bombs, ground flares, "Verey lights," wire cntters, etc., etc., all the necessary impedimenta for a stunt! At 4 a.m. on Wednesday we moved out to the tune of the guns. The show had kicked off and roads were fairly clear. As we passed the transport lines our valises were dumped; a great relief! From there on we proceeded in battle order. For the uninitiated I might explain that battle order consisted of web equipment with the haversack on the braoo stops. The haversack, after the iron ration is put in, usually contains a towel and toilet requisites. On the back an oil-shoot is strapped. These comforts carried on the back represent the sum total of everyone's entire camp outfit. Anything else one carries is "fighting kit." It was a hot march, but the crowd were in wonderfully high spirits, and really keen to get into the show. I saw a chap whoso feot wouldn't carry him, seated on the roadside, his head in his hand*; and big teurs trickling between hi' fingers, stung at the sight of his mites going on whilst he could not. The five-minutes-halt-to-tho-hour rule held good. Each timo we halted a few pore-footod ones would plo,d on to rejoin their platoons who'd'gone ahead. One fellow consistently passed us in this manner at the halts—a man about forty withsa bushy moustache and tufts of hair on his cheek bones. As he trudged past us with serious mien some wag called to him —"Double up, Private Brown!" The hairy one, turning with flashing eye upon his tormentor, with infinite scorn replied, "Oh, you teaso!"

Tho sun was quite hot by tho time w*» waded through the dew-drenched crops at Sailly. Companies were sorted out into order of battle, and settled down to await orders. Wo remained there tho best part of .three days, and onr enthusiasm began to suffer from the delay. But at 5 p.m. on the third day wo "set off, and everyone was in fin« form again. Our route lay through Hebuterne, at which point our Now Zealand Y.M.C.A. had established a email canteen, distributing biscuits and rhocolaie as wo passed. About 9 p.m., as it was approaching twilight, we again sorted out to settle down for the night. On all theso occasions tho great thinp was to pet as comfortable as possible, as quickly as possible, and obtain all the rest one could. Advancing igainst an enemy who is fighting and retreating, one can never be sure that "the plaeo selected for the night will bo permanent. If it is found that tho enemy has gone, we follow up at once. On this occasion we lay under a railway embankment. "We dug into the bank, fixing shelters as best wo could with anything that was availablo. Then it rained. At 11 p.m. tea was on. When company commanders returned from the C.O.'s conference, the u?ual smaller conferences were held, so that ill ranbi might know as much as pos-

siole of the. next day'ss show. No one 6lept much, it was too cold. At regular intervals tho Hun searched for us with a long-range gun But we rested, and studied our maps, and smoked. Tho spirits wore remarkably high, and tho news of successes achieved by thj> divisions operating in the Corps with us was received with great enthusiasm. In the days that followed how often we spent mir nights thus, waiting for tho dawn—and the fight!

'I'llon we hod no conception of the distance to which the Huns would bo forcod back, or the work we would ho called upon to undertake. The future has always boen a fairly misty thing, but nevor more bo than in wartime whon so often we pawn; in the game are unknowingly making history!