BEHIND THE LINES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 159, 31 March 1919, Page 8

BEHIND THE LINES

MTv. F. W. HAYBITTLE'S RETURN. — Mr.- P. W. Haybittle, who haB 4 been engaged in Red Cross v'ork behind the lines in France as a motor-driver for the last four years, was enteretained by tha members of Wellington Bowling Club at the clutoi pavilion on 1 Saturday evening. In the course of the evening, Mr. Haybittle gave an "illuminative bird'seye view of the great campaign, making it vital with many little stories descrip tive of of the war.\ After a description of the -big .German offensive of Maroh last, he' -elated graphically how General Sir Hugh Goughs army met with .disaster, when 60,000 British wera'completely overwhelmed. - This left a breach of seven miles if the line prao tically, left open. The news .was communicated -to General Ifaig, who com' municated with Brigadier-General. Trenchafd. The latter'summoned some 7000 aeroplanes, fighting liko infantry, in t&o air with their machine-guns. Of tho 7000 machines that went into action onjj .4000 came out, but they held the line b> flying from SO to 200 yards high and firing into the oncoming Hun' hordes. This action, saved the, railhead, where they had immense stores for-two armies, in-, oluding one store with 200,00u moto*tyres. Mr. Haybittle psid a wonderful tribute to the valour of the British, troops under all circumstances, find read some cases of brave, men who had won the'V.C., performing feats' of .deathless heroism. He paid a tributeto the Canadians,; who put up a wonderful defence at" Vimy, right out in .'the front, and amazingly fortified. Then the big advance took place," and . they went .forward, alwa}'? in the front. It was the Canadians who were the''first to enter Lille, Douai, Turcoing, . Valenciennes, mid finally historic Hons..

. -Mr. Haybittle was in Lille threii .davs after it was retaken; .He was going on to -Mens after its. capture when the chassis,of, the car cracked. Fortunately a travelling A.S.C. garage camc "along, and the clever mechanics clanjped , the, .brack with tiro pieces of 'H'ood, and as they..couH take no further risks they retraced their course right ■ back to Btaples-and the clamp held good. On the way back they paid a-.visit to tho field of Agincourt, and rn the spot they drank to the memory of Henry V, \vho had performed such feats of valour, for old England. ' The health of Mr. F,- W. Haybittle was proposed by the president of Hie club (Mr. A. Wylie). who coupled his name .with that of Mr. Duncan (a mem- i ber of the club whe recently returned' from active service). The-toast -was drunk with enthusiasm with- '''musical honours. . Musical and elocutionary items were' provided bv Messrs .E; ,T.'Hill,- ' Frank Charlton, W. Crawford, Harold -Whittle, — Logan. Those present included the-Mayor. (Mr. •T. P. Luke), Colonel 17.. .T. Collins! .Messrs. F. Towns end, J. C. Keith, and other old bowling friends of the guest tif honour from other clubs.