Hokitika Guardian & evening star THURSDAY, AUGUST 2nd, 1917. A BIG PUSH.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & evening star THURSDAY, AUGUST 2nd, 1917. A BIG PUSH.

The renewal, of the giant offensive on the Western Front shows tuuv. the Franco-Britisli forces liave been biding their time since the heavy fighting in June, and tho activity of the Germans of late has been more apparent than real, because the Allies were too busy preparing to counter the temporary German activity- Now, with the order of battle arranged, the enemy axe finding themselves fully engaged, and .are learning what the fury of a big pilkh really meains. Captain Boyd -Cable, whoso vivid impressions of war have been as good in their way as anything written -"about the Western Front, repeats jais success in “Grapes of Wrath." The purpose of this book is to describe, what “a big push” is like from the point of view not of 'the historian or the special correspondent, or the empyreans of tho high command, or oven the lesser luminaries-of the local staff, but from that of the rank and file who do most of the work and receive most of the knocks. For liis purpose he has taken a group of private/; in a British battalion t There is a member of tho “upnei*- class” of the “lower huddle class,” of the “submerged tenth” (Pug.and cockney gutter rax .bellicose and incorrigibly cheerful), and to complete the quartette, “Kentucky” who has coma from America to enlist. Kentucky has no European ties, no personal interest in war but bo feels it “up to him and brings to his work a cool .intelligence and a cold determination which make him a splendid soldier. In the days of peace these men would iicvor have met j certainly they would novel' would have oqme the sworn hand of brothers who hold together out of action and in it and exchange mutual confidences in case messages have t° ho, sent or—-as they put it —one of them becomes “a wash out.” They each expect to be hit sooner or later; they, differ only in the attitude of their expectation Plug is convinced that liis name is written on a particular bullet. He is profoundly indignant when he. finds according to his philosophy, is a papular 'inscription. , The adventures of these four musketeers are merged in a broader background which skilfully shows the incidents of an-advance as seen by a new draft from beginning to end. First, on their way to the trenches they bivouac in a field, where a battery of guns is methodically smashing the enemies’ barbed wire.tbere .is no hakte; there is no pans. , for four days and for four nights the guns have been battering the unseen target and the “Stone walls” are wonderfully heartened by the sight. In training the infantry talk bitterly about tho gunnel's and their “swank; ’ when they get to front they go out ol their way to court them and flatter them. Next, the , progress .through the maze of trenches to the first line; the shattering punishment from the German bombardment. Tho casualties were severe hut the Stonewalls wore eager to bo up and at the enemy, “not. because , they bad a wish to die or take the risks, heavy risks of death . or wounds, but because they were chilled to'the hone with iri iction, were wholly and utterly miserable, wet and m.p comfortable, were anxious to get it over knowing that- when they had been in .the front line for a certain time and lost a percentage of their number, they would be relieved by other regiments and sent back to'the rear.” Then the j moment when they K» over “vue top” tho advance across no-man’s land, the melee in the German trenches - w ith bombs, bayonets and naked fists; *be German counter-attack when everybody fires until the rifles bum their hands and the waves of advancing half hidden in smoke seem as endless and as inexorable as the Wave's of the sea. And so back to the clearing station with the feeling that on this section at least there has been a victory. ’“On this section”— for that is all that they know. In the inferno of noise a variation of pitch—tho Whine of rifle and machine gun bullets and the boom of grenades —where before only the heavier note of artillery was heard, may suggest some change in the fortunes of the day, but. in. the front line they do not know whether it is bad or good. They sec little themselves “Their v-iow gave a restricted vision of maze of twisting lines of parapets of which thev could, tell no difference , between British or Gorman of tangles of rusty barbed wire and beyond these things of a drifting haze of smoko; shrapue* and high explosives. They could not even tell which of these shells wore friends’ and which were foes’ or whether they were falling in the British or German lines.” “Pug” was frankly disgusted with the whole performance. “The people at ’ome,” he said, "will see a blinkin’ sight more of this show jn tho picture papers and cinema,shows | thnu me and what’s hero in the- middle f of it-” I

The Defender loaves ■Wellington on Tuesday for Hokitika via Picton. The Liverpool Gift Depot in Revel] Street will he open on Saturdays from 7 p.m. td 9.30. p.m. where all donations will bo gladly received. All persons having claims against or owing to Messrs Harris and Son aro requested to render thorn forthwith to Lewis and Wells. Private advice received states that Keith Black who was recently in Hokitika on sick leave on his return to Fiji had to go into the hospital for a further operation to his leg, tho result of tho injury received in action hi Belgium, as a result of which he had been invalided home. lit was hoped the operation would have a satisfactory result. Discussing the fare provided in gaols for prisoners, Mr. P. C. Webb, ait 1 tho Christchurch welcome to him, said that, he believed that whoever drew up the regulations must havo had Scotch blood, as porridge was a mainstay. The official Could not have been Irish as very few potatoes wore distributed, and even these were not much bigger than grapes (Laughter). A euchre drive in the Town Hall will bo held to-night in aid of the Returned Soldiers’ Association The? ladies of the Overseas Club are conducting the function, which .will bo on basis similar to the gathering held about five weeks ago. Valuable prizes -will be distributed during the supper interval, and a dance will he held subsequently. There should lie a largo and enjoyable gathering to mark the event. A lecture will be given in the Princes s Theatre on Friday evoning by Mr.- H. E. Holland, Editor of the “Maoriland Worker” the subject being “Historical facts of Ireland’s Famines and Rebellions.” The lecturer is a .fine speaker and has given the lecture, with success in various parts of New Zealand, The dress circle will be reserved for ladies and 'their escorts. A collection will bo taken up to defray expenses. A soldier at the front- writes:—“l think 1 have told you before what the Y.M.C.A, do for us boys over hero. Well, just fancy, after coming out of the trenches about two or three o’clock in the morning, getting a nice hot cup of tea' or .cocoa, and a piece of cake or some biscuits given t.o us. You can imagine what it would be like to us, so hot and •tired as' we wore. And' this is downright under tiro, and within a short distance of the front line, so you can see what a fine body they are. I really don’t know what we would do without tin-m. Do not be afraid to tell everyone wliab they arc doing for us boys out here.' and then somo people may try" and help iiliem, or at least they should-do, as the Y.M.C.A. are doing really good work, and it is appreciated by tho Now Zealanders at- the front. St. Mary's tournament. and social held last evoningf proved one of the most successful gatherings of the season, ninety players compete, tho four valuable prizes offered for competition*- 'JAie successful ladies w<irc Miss M. Neads and Mrs H. Harbor; the winning gents proved to be Messrs M. Dwan and W. Logue. After supper had been served, Mr 11. Williams presented the successful competitors with their prizes. He then called on Private; D. Dooling to step forward »ud presented him with ft wristlet watch from the members of the Club. Mr Williams referred to Private Dooling’s long connection with St. Mary’s Club and tire good work done by him ■ while a member of the committee- -Private Dooling feeling.y replied, thanking Mr Williams for his kindly references towards him, and the Club for their very useful present;' The speaker assured one and all t ho did nofc require any presentation remand him of the friendsjshe was leaving, and said that the wristlet watcli would bo a real West Coast friend to him while on active service. Cheers were given for the young soldier, and after the singing of “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” a social"'hour was spent in dancing. Air's Bennett, Misses Jacobs and Breze and Air. A. Lawn supplied the music in their usual good style. Call and se G the special reductionsmade in Ladies’ Tweed Coats and in Winter Millinery at Misses Addisons. —Advt. i E. J. Llovd is not too shy to . tell ifirifty housewives that; “No Rubbing” Laundry . Help does wash all -clothes spotlessly clean without rubbing or injury, also gives Thinker Note Book free with every Is packet of “No Rubbing.”—Advt. No cold is. NAZOL-proqf. And no cough and‘cold remedy is so economical as NA2OL. Eighteenpence buys BO doses—more than three a penny. For Influenza take Woods’ Great t-ep-permint' Cure. Never fails. 1/6, 2-'6. Mere economical than cough mixtures or syrups is NAZOL. Eighteenpence buys sixty doses—moro than -hree a penny.- No. cold is NAZOL-proof.

For- Chronic Chest Complaints, Woods’ Great Peppermint. Cure l/fi. 2/0

Wo have somo attractive lines in Eider-down Quilts; low prices and pretty designs. Just what you require for the cold weather.—Misses Addison. —Advt. ■