WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1918, Page 1

WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

“OPEN” WARFARE

'From Captain Malcolm Ross, Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in the field). October 12. In the area in which the New Zealanders are fighting the German retreat has slowed down. Beyond the Selle river the Wellington troops, still in line, improved their position slightly this morning, and captured a few prisoners. Yesterday they held, In addition to their front, a flank of three thousand yards, and on this five hundred enemy were seen in two lines, as if ready to attack. Our men got their Vickers guns on to them and then the forward section fired steadily at them Nothing came of the supposed attack. Today this flank was reduced by half, and tlie position made more secure, but the enemy is holding the ridge ahead and from the direction of Solesmes was shelling the position we had won. Last night he shelled one of our regimental aid posts from a farm north of Viesly. This morning we passed them digging in under the hank of the road leading to tlie front. Warfare is non; “open.” you can walk for miles and see no sign of any trenches or barbed-wire — a unique experience in this war. Great craters have been blown in the roads and railways and these our engineers are filling in. For many miles the enemy lias destroyed his telegraph lines, sawing down the posts and breaking the

tvires. Civilians liberated from bondage m the forward villages are still unrestrained in their joy. Strange to say, they knew some days ago that the New Zealanders were coming—they had heart the German soldiers talking of their advance. Everywhere the Hun has looted freely, anil has left behind trails of destruction. The inhabitants bad continued to cultivate some fields, and flowers and vegetables are growing in their gardens! Our men are enjoying abundance of vegetables, which for weeks have been very scarce with us. Theie are fields of ’sugar beet and turnips and winter wheat is pushing its leaves above the soil. Our men, tired, but still cheerful, are due for a spell after their long: advance-

CORR£SPONDENCE.

ROAD OR BRIDGE

(To the Editor'

Sir, —We give you credit for believing that the person or persons controlling the policy of the “Guardian” have not a monopiv of the foresight possessed by the people of Westland. You claim your paper has not in the past been blind to the importance of Bold .Head Road. We contend, Sir, that had you battled for it as strenuously as you are now opposing it, your claim would be justified. You then proceed to prove to your satisfaction, that the objections you raised would discount any advantages which would accrue by the completion of the work. We also challenge you to prove that the money which will build tlie proposed bridge and approaches would not go within a third of completing Bold Head Road. You admit that the present Road has its drawbacks. AVe maintain that wu are justified in our present action, because the advantages would off-set the drawbacks a hundred fold. Re railway. Are Stuart and Chapman waiting for the Railway? No Sir, they are eager to risk the despised Bold Head Road. For the benefit of your readers we submit the following. The deviation is 5 miles odd; the estimate for completion of Bold Head Road and erection of a bridge, is £7,500. Your contention that the deviation would not .Jorm part of the Alain South Road would not hold water, once it was completed. AA’ho would travel “Lover’s Lane,” as one correspondent aptly terms it? Regarding drifting sands, sea erosion, swamp country, lack of metal, these are the old familiar arguments and are merely camouflage. 1 AVe are etc. G. SCOTT ROBINSON. J. J. AUK AY. Hnri Hari, fAs regards the above challenge, the bridge is to cost in the region of £2,SOD whic-li is exactly a third of the estimate given above for the cost, (?) of finishing tlie road. As to the railway, Stuart and Chapman Ltd are not waiting for it. They waited seven years, and then pm their hands in their pockets and constructed their own railway, but the people of South AVestland are waiting for the railway. It has been sanctioned and authorised, and the needs of: the district demand its extension. The deviation would not form part of the Alain South road because the existing road already constitutes that by statutory plan, and the Government would not maintain two roads running side by side, leading to the some point. In reference to the alleged camouflage, our correspondents should take a run down to Bold Head Point just now and see what the sea lias done and can do m the way of interrupting traffic, and for the lack of metal enquire whence it has to he carted now for ordinary repairs.— Ed. “Guardian.”]