BACK FROM THE "BIG PUSH"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2972, 9 January 1917, Page 6

BACK FROM THE "BIG PUSH"

RETURNED SOLDIEKS TALK ONE OF THE "TANKS" ~ (By Telegraph.—Press AssociuUou.) Auokland, January 8. Another draft of sick and wounded arrived in Auckland early this morning in charge of Colonel Cowlcs. i Though there wero no cot cases among ' them, the men bore plenty of signs of having been in the thick of tho fray. Some looked pale and others limped painfully with the aid of a stick, but notwithstanding their sufferings all had a cheery t'inilo on their faces when the boat drew alongside the wharf. Ono dusky warrior proudly exhibited a German helmet, taken in the "6ig push" at tho Somme. Two German sentries, apparently tiring of the stronuous business or fighting, were indulging in. a game of cards when grim death overtook Ithem in the form of a number of New Zealanders,' who paid them a strictly business call, wherein tho principle form of introduction was the bayonet. "What happened?" queried a press-' man, of the present possessor of the helmet. "Oh," was the laconic reply, "1 brought this back after pushing tho bayonet through the owner." Beyond that he had nothing to say.' The "Juggernauts." Among 'the officers who returned was one who had been attached to one of the much-talked-of Tanks. , The work of those Tanks is already well known. "They absolutely struck terror into the hearts of the Germans," said ono speaker. "When they made their appearance nothing seemed to stop them. They were literally ~ modern Juggornauts, and dealt death wherever they went. It -was no uncommon thing to see ono of them nose its way half-way across a trench and then sit there and enfilade the trench on both sides. When it was finished it sort of casually wandered along to the next one ■and repeated tbo dose." An artilleryman who had received/a snlinter of shell in his b'ack had something to say about the big guns atd the manner in which ihey are located bv the aircraft. In one instance, five Taubes flowrover his section. An hour later tho German shells commenced to arrive. They had the range to a nicety, and made no mistake about it. Tho inevitable query as to what happened brought the smiling reply. "Oh, we shifted tho guns as soon as we. saw tho Taubes, and when tho shells commenced to drop we were somewhere else.' . The speaker stated that so fur as aircraft were concerned wo had an absolute superiority over the Germans, and flew over.their lines continually, a fact which helped us very materially, and which was an indication of tbo striking progress we had made in this particular branch of warfare since the opening of tho war. Tho southern men left by the Main Trunk express to-night. ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON. Thirty invalided soldiers, under the. command of Major S. C. Schofield, arrived in Wellington yesterday on the Riverina. They had been landed at Sydney from an Australian' transport and transferred there to the New -Zea-land-bound steamer. Originally tho party included four cot cases, but all ■tho men are now convalescent. They arc members of tho New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigado, and some of them have seen sorvico on tho Egyptian frontier. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) met the men on the steamer and welcomed them on behalf of the City. He said that he hoped tho appearance of returned soldiers, who had gone out as volunteers and played their part in tho great war, ijould inspire other young New Zealanders to fill tho vacant places without waiting for the spur of compulsion. Tho men went beforo a Medical Board before'they left the ship, and later most of them visited the Soldiers' Club, where they were offered all the courtesies at tho disposal of their comrades. The resources of the Y.M.C.A. .were also offered the returned men. A party of returned soldiers will arrive in Wellington from Auckland today, and the southern members will proceed to Lyttolton by tho ferry steamer. These soldiers reached Auckland yesterday on board a transport. The Defence- authorities aro advised that the men are all convalescent. Tho following are the men who returned on the Riverina -under Major S. O. Schofield:—Quartermaster-Ser-geant Smith, Sergt.-Major James, Sergts. Collins and Novell, Corp]. Brown, Loe.-Corpls. Smale and Usher, Gunner Conway, Troopers Bnrrett, Douglas, Forbes, Wisnesky, Scott, Roe, Ashworth, Byrne, Carlylc, Remnant, Burberry, Gucrin, ! Rudd, Newbold. Pike, Woodbead, Woods, Coull, and Burnoss, Drivers Bradshaw and Mitchell, Pte. M'Donald. . Major Schofield left with the Main Body in. command of the Third Squadron of the Auckland Mounted Rifles. Ho went to Gallipoli, and was wounded severely in the August advance. After spending some months in England ho returned to Egypt, and took part in some of tho later fighting there with the mounted New Zealanders. i