NEW ZEALANDERS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1917, Page 2

NEW ZEALANDERS

Praiso for Tunnelling Company

Wellington, May 18 _ (From the New Zealand Official War

Correspondent )

Headquarters, May 4

Now that our victorioua armies are far in advance of Arias, it may be stated that New Zealand has played a not unimportant past in the success of the initial stages of tbe great battle. For some time the Tunnelling Company of the New Zealand .E iginetrs and Miners has besn har owing underground in the region of an old town, yet nothing could be said about their splendid woik, You could walk for a distance through their drives.and tunnels connecting the old caves. It was military mining au a vast Beale. Thera were tunnels eighty and nioety feet below the surface and there were great caverns and chambers lit from dynamos working underground.

The New Zsalandera and the ot-hers too, had laid mines that on the fateful morning, when tbe German line was broken, hurled inta the air, vast quantities of earth, trench material and, we btibve~rnauy Gerrnau soldiers.

Dur'ng the lasi twelve months the New Zealand Tunnel ing Company has done moat praitsewi-rtky w. rk. The men are mostly coal and gold miners, but time after time they outwitted the German miners and obtained the initiation aod gradually blew the enemy back till the safety of the British front trenches was ensured. They worked with great vigor, breaking all records in tanne.liag. They h»d lit'le sickness and very few casualties. After long waiting for tbe fruiiit-u of their great work they will deserve their meetl of praise.