RAIDS BY THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1917, Page 3

RAIDS BY THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Germans Killed and Captured ,f our Only Disease is Hunger'’ (From Malcolm Ross, WV.r Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in the Field). Northern France, Jan 9 On two oocaeicaa recently the New Zealand R flea raided the German trenches. The raiders showed great dash and bravery, and both raids were eminently successful. Io the first of these raids it is estimated that fifty of the enemy were killed and wounded, and nine prisoners were brought back. The prisoners were not at. all loth to come away. This was not to be surprised a% for their trenches were in many places foend to be in a deplorable condition, waist dasp in water and badly shattered by our trench mortars and artillery, In such bad condition were these trenches that they could be held only in isolated pests, Our engineers blew up a pumping plant and a section of trench tramway. One section of the raidrra threw three hundred bombs, and disposed of about twenty Germans. All this was accomplished with a loss of one man killed and four wounded. Another raid referred to ic Sir Douglas Hug’s latent communique was equally successful, and more interesting on account of the information obtained. Again the toll of killed and wounded Germans was

about fifty, while no fewer than nineteen prisoners we'e brought back. Oar losses ware only one killed and three wounded. For a considerable time post the rsport on raids in our sector has invariably been “ identification normal.” On this occasion, however, there were new troops opposite us. Again the prisoners ware only too glad to surrender, and not at ali inclined to put up a fight. They were mostly young men of from 19 to about 25, and quit 3 good material. They wete well clothed, but they were without exception thin and hnngry. They carried with them back through No-Man’s Land the uneaten portion of their bread ration, evidently loth to be parted from it. They stated that they had been suffering from colds, but that there was no prevalence of influenza or other disease. They said the only disease'they were Buffering from was hunger, and their looks did not belio the statement. Our A.P.M. at once proceeded to draw rations for them, for always the enemy prisoners are well treated, and not only well bat kindly treated by the British Armic-9 in the field. This . important evidenoe about hunger in the rank) may explain in some degree the strenuous attempt that is being made on the part of thp

Gerroai authorities t) obfciia a premature peace and the furicuaness of the Kaiser and the people of Germany at the failure of the Allies to fall in with their proposals. Another important faob is that though these young soldiers complained of hunger they stated that their rations had not been reduced in bulk, They said they were getting the same ration now as they were getting in the summer, but they attributed the fact of their present craving for food to the idea that in order to stave off banger a larger ration was needed in the winter than was necessary in the gammer. The chances are, however, that what what hr, 9 happened is that though their rations are the game in bulk, they are very different now in quality. In oth3r words, they are lacking in the main elements of suetentation. If this is the ease it would tend to

confirm information that is coming to

hand from other sources, and would account to some extent for the steadily declining morale of the German armies on the Western front. At the same time, this information* valuable though it is, does not warrant any slackening of onr efforts, for there can be little doubt that the enemy is busy with an increase of srmament and of munitions, and that that he will still mako a tremendous effort to stave off ultimate and disasI trous defeat. That he fears such a defeat is clearly evident. That the Allies can accomplish’ wbat the enemy ; now dreads is also clear. All that is needed is united and co-ordinated effort. Speaking for the New Zealanders, j v oan say that they, like everyone else, woa Id be glad to see the war ended ; but ace prepared to fight until it is ended. “ I believe,” said one oti^ cer to m 0 only otlj£r day, “ that if peace were declared tomorrow every .^ aa would throw his hat in the air, but most 0 f them would 1 be grabbing them before they got very far up.” Thaty I think, expresses the general feelin’g—peace as hood as possible ; but not until we have 1 given the enemy a bigger beating than | we have already given him.