"DIGGER" IN GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 238, 2 July 1919, Page 5

"DIGGER" IN GERMANY

LIEUT. G. P. BANNA RETURNS

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

Among those who arrived from tlio south by the Maori yesterday morning (ex-Maunganui from England) was Lieutenant G. P. Hnnna, known in Wellington us a gifted cnricaturist and cartoonist (whoso work was eagerly accepted by the London papers), a good Savage, and a champion high diver and expert in natatorial diversions generally. Wlien it is stated that Lieutenant Hanna, was the first New Zealander to get into Germany of the whole Division, and was the first "Digger" to get to Brussels after the armistice, it will bo realised that he is a man of infinite resourco and daring. Finding the march of the long column through Belgium too slow Lieutenant Hanna and an equally enterprising

"Aussio" officer commandeered a 6tray motor-car, and went as fast as they could via Limburg to Aix-la-Chapelle. The Belgian and French troops were already there, but they were the only representatives of the Allies in Aix-la-Cnapelle when tho "Digger" and tha "Aussie" arrived. "The Germans seemed to look right through us—cold and inscrutable—as though we were nothing at all, but once or twice. when wo happened to glance round, we saw hundreds,of heads from doors and. windows staring after.lis as though we were strange animals. We were 'Americaines' to them on account of our hats. ( "The first thing tho Belgians did to the' Germans at. Aix-la-Chapclle was to re-enact tho precise regulations which Von Bissing had enforced in Brussels, and rubbing the acid in by carrying them out ilo the finest detail. Tlio French, strange to say, were not so strict. At Mainz, where the French were in charge, tho regulations were practically the same as in Aix-]a-Chapelle, but they were lax in enforcing them. Instead of the hour for getting off the streets being 9 p.m. it was iO, and even if they were not in by 10 the French authorities never worried any. To be quite frank the Frenchmen fell victims to the charms of Fraulein, and that mads for looseness all round. Talk about the French being the hardest against the Hun—from what I have seen in ihe occupied towns 1 should say they were the oasiest; and the Germans know it. The most bitter were the Belgians; then I think the Americans (who swunked round with big automatic revolvers), then tho British, and. finally, the French." Lieutenant Hanna possesses probably tlio only complete file of "La Libre Belgique" (tho secret Brussels organ), a copy of which alwnys found its way into Von Bissing's office without his ever being able to ascertain how it was managed. A reward of JC2OOO was offered for information that would lead to a knowledge of the publishers of the journal. That knowledge never reached the German authorities, and tha final issue, published on Armistice Day, was a scream of victory which must have made "tlio galled jade (Germanin) wince." Lieutenant Hanna exerted no magic to obtain the filo.. Tho idea occurred to him that it would bo an interesting souvenir to bring home, and ho made inquiries for copies as soon as he reached Brussels not long after the armistice. There again he was taken for an American, and. resented it. He inquired for copies of "La Libre Bel,gique" from the Belgians (who were inclined to make a fuss of him), and one copy led to another, and finally, with the assistance of tho volatile Burgomaster Max, of Brussels, ho was ablo to complete the whole file, which is now in Wellington. Lieutenant llanna enlisted at the first call, and went off to Samoa, where he helped consistently to keep things going under what were ,at times depressing circumstances. A monster German flag, hanging in his studio, testifies to his predilection for acquiring war souvenirs. He returned to New Zealand in 1915, and left again for tho European front with tho Tenth Reinforcements, and whilst holding non-commissioned rank was selected for training in the Officers' Training Corps in England in 1917, and, after passing his examination, was given a commission, His eketches and cartoons of men and things at the front are clever and original, and his German types, done in oolour, on German sandbags (mado of paper) created a great deal of interest when exhibited in Wellington six months ago.