FLIGHT OF THE ENEMY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 17, 15 October 1918, Page 6

FLIGHT OF THE ENEMY

; ; . a— (Special from the Official New Zealand War Correspondent.) Touch was obtained with the retreating enemy by tho Now Zealnnders this morning at Fontaine-au-Pere, whero they were held up by mnchine-gnri fire from the village. Some of the gunners were firing from the church steeple. 1 went again through Esnes to Gonghart, where I could see the Jlifle Brigade men on the left and the Otago troops on tho right of the village. Our supports had dus: themselves in in small oblong pits behind the forward An enemy balloon was up, and 'the 'Grrmnn r.uns wero firing at our men on the loft, bMt the fire was not heavy, and the men were sheltered from nnvthing but direct hits. From this vantage point there was a magnificent view of tho country ahead. We had come well oast of Cninbrai. which was still burning. Caudrv, to tho right, was also smoking, but the •fields were green with late crops, whero the French civilians had but recently ken cultivating. Olio had nome at last into a pleasant land, where the villages were midestroyed and + .he roads were good, except where tho bridges were blown in. In the housps thero wore evidences of the hasty flight.,of the French inhabitants. Women's and children s clothing, good crockerv and glassware, and remnants of food were littered about the rooms. In one house stood n fiewing machine wit.h a gnnnoiit _ a I woman had been mnking still in it. One wondered what had happened to the late occnpanlis of these nlpasnnt village homes. Now thriir bolnnuiinpiß were strewn to the four winds of heaven. On my wny back I saw one of the most romioal sights of the war. A New Zealand ammunition column swung round the corner of a village street in a strange guise. The riders and men on the limbers lind discarded their steel helmets and were wearing bell-toppers, bowler, and felt hats. They were the-cynosure of pll eyes, and the roads they passed along became gay with the smiles of the long columns of infantry, moving forward.