SCENES AT THE TAKING OF LE QUESNOY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1918, Page 4

SCENES AT THE TAKING OF LE QUESNOY.

A MAORI THE FIRST MAN IN

WHO WAS HE?

(From Captain Malcolm Ross, Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in the field).

LONDON, Nov 8

Fifty years hence there will be old men sitting in the ingle-nook in New Zealand telling their grandchildren tales of the storming of Le Quesnoy. The more one sees of the wonderful old Fortress the more remarkable seems the achievement. Men of mettle would \ have held it for a month; the Germans lost it in a day. The outer and inner ramparts with their moats and island bastion in between, bade defiance to an invader. That such a Fortress should fall to the New Zealanders is an episode in history. Stranger still is the fact that the first man to enter was a Maori—one of our pioneer battalion. After stiff fighting and several casualties to officers and men, a battalion of the Rifle Brigade found themselves within three hundred yards of Porto de Valenciennes. Already the Boche had laid a mine. Presently there was a loud explosion, and the bridge was hurled into the air. The garrison, entirely held by New Zealanders fought on. At 2.30, the Battle Comfhander (who is one of our most determined fighters)decided to try a sortie. Iwo officers and ton others went forward. To this party there had attached tliem-

solves some Maoris of the pioneer batalion, who for the moment, having nothing else to do, joined the fighting firoops. One of these 'seizing a Boche rifle led the way, and shot the first German he saw. There can he no better account of the incident than his own terse and humourous description: “When I se e the Boche I shoot. and kill one. Then I shoot again and miss. Then I fire the third time but no plurry bullet-.” (There had been only two bullets in the mno-nziiie of that Boche rifle. The Maori then realising that there was little more that lie could do, returned to his unit and exchanged the rifle, for a shovel, well content that ho had killed on e Boche. Like some demon in a pantomime he faded out of the picture, and no one knows his name or number:; hut- the Battalion Commander is still looking for him to recommend him for a well-earned decoration.

This Battalion, like others, fought remarkably well, and what they accomplished helped greatly to let anotlu-i Battalion into the centre of the town where the Commandant formally offered his revolver in tokein of surrender. The sortie did not lead to any very definite result, hut later, when the German machine-gunners had been driven from the ramparts, and two field guns that- had been shooting at the battalion at point blank range, had been silenced, the men swarmed into the town. They had been seen previously by the .inhabitants who wildly cheered them on. Entering the town they had a similar experience to that of the Fourth Battalion, who had already entered from the other side, after scaling the rampart wall on tlieir tall ladder. Peo 2>le excitedly crowded about them and they were hugged and kisod and presented with flags and flowers. The frenzied delight of these Frenchmen and Frenchwomen was unbounded. Later, into one of the vaulted chambers lately occupied bv the enemy, went the battalion Commander and another officer. Thither the Boche had conveyed much French furniture, hods, mattresses, pillows, 'mirrors and some of the people now' rushed in anxious to get tlieir own back.

Near the door was a piano stolen by the Boche. In a moment of inspiration a Frenchman sat down at it and commenced to play the “Marseillaise.” The effect- was electrical. Men, women, children and soldiers joined in the stirring strains of the splen did hymn, the echoes of which n.sounded from the vaulted roof. The thin faces and poor-dad form of the liberated civilians, in. the light of two candles held hv the Battalion Commander and one of liis men made an unforgettable scene that only a Rembrandt could do justice to. The place was Strewn with Boche equipment; and one excited old Frenchman began hacking at it with a German bayonet that lie had picked up. Then the battalion hand marched along the Rue Thiers, and so to the place D’Armes, followed by a wildly excited throng, waving the tricolour, singing and cheering. The bank struck up the “Marsellaise.” That put tile townspeople on fire. One moment you would see women and singing in wild delight and next tears were streaming down their faces. For four long years they had been bondslaves—now they were free. Relief long-expected had come at last. As one old man put it—“ They took our liberty; they took our food ; they took our food; they took our furniture, and now la bonne deliverance!” THE RIFLE BRIGADES WORK.

In telegrams already despatched I. have referred to the work of the three battalions of ( the Rifle Brigade. It now he added that the first battalion liad a very hard row to hoe owing to the difficulties on tlieir right flank. It was not a want of valour in the neighbouring troops hut rather in a thin barrage on this part of the advance that was responsible for this. In this battalion the commander and no fewer than ten officers were wounded aim though the commander continued to fight, so great a loss in officers was undoubtedly a handicap.

Of all the battalions the Third had apparently the easiest nm through. It had nevertheless some extraordinary experience. It had a few casualties from enemy shelling about three in the morning in getting to its assembly points. It followed the First Battalion, and at an early stage of the advance got into a fog, so dense that the left Company could not he seen, and two runners were sent to find out. Present ly one of them came back with three Hun automatic revolvers slung about him and a broad smile under his tin hat. It appeared that his mate and he liad suddenly stumbled on a German machine-gun position. “I’m sorry I could not find the Company, Sir, ’ he said, “but my mate is bringing in a machine-gun and' what is left of the crew.’’ Sure enough the other runner soon appeared with the machine-gun, and those of the crew that had not been disposed of with revolvers, Runners had

rushed the position, killed several and tho rest “Kameraded.’’ There was another incident that had a touch of comedy about, it. The Battalion Commander, Intelligence Officer, three signallers and three runners, advanced their headquarters to an orchard. The Commander was standing | on the road when lie noticed looming i up through the fog a number of men * whom at first he took to he Tommies advancing from his right rear. Diking a second to look at them he saw that they were Bodies. Most of his men were sitting with their backs to tlie apple trees and smoking cigarettes. Realising the danger lie called to them to prepare for action. They were eight ' to about eighty, hut they sailed into the enemy with their revolvers; a second lieutenant rushing in with such vigour and determination, that the Huns taken completely off tlieir guard, at | once put up their hands. The eight New Zealanders began to strip them of their arms, actually taking the revolvers out of the hands of tinofficers. They were Germans trying to net back to their garrison in Quesnoy. Amongst them was a. messenger from Hie First Battalion whom they had captured, and lie too, quickly kauuraded,” being afraid that liis fellow New Zealanders would shoot. Afterwards it was seen that these Germans had a machine gun ready to fire. If they had put up a fight it would have been headquarters and not the eighty Huns that would have been prisonered. Later, on this Battalion Comamnder Sent a German Officer into Le Quesnoy with a message asking the garrison to surrender. A platoon commander took him up to the inner gate, before which the Germans burst into tears, being afraid that, his own men might shoot him for a deserter. The diggers, however, insisted that lie should go in. They saw no more of him. About three in the afternoon two more Germans were sent in with a message to say that if the garrison did not come’ out in hatches of five at a time the New Zealanders would slaughter the whole lot. 11 1 esc two peace i envoys returned, and stated that the j German soldiers were- willing to so. j render, hut. the Commandant would not agree. Apparently, however, this dire threat had some effect, for afterwards resistance gradually slackened, and the next tiling this Battalion Commander heard was that the New Zealanders were over the top of the highest wall and into th e citadel. One tank which some New Zealanders directed to a machine-gun nest that was holding up Tommies on. the flank, did really good work. Two scouts did a very plucky tiling,,

they ran into a party of between twenty and thirty Huns, killed twelve and brought in the rest as prisoners. Another incident was the dropping of ammunition by one of our planes—a kindly and daring action —though our men were not in need of it. r l he advance was so fast that those behind did not known its extent, and artillery officers who came up to ask if it was safe to come so far with their guns were told that the line was already far ahead. The New Zealanders could see numbers of the enemy running away, hut could not get- at them. The initial barrage was magnificent, and

even terrorizing to our own men. who in some places thought twice before starting it. The noise and concussion were so great that officers told mo they suffered from headaches so severe that they could not sleep that night. During the day several batches of Germans came in under the white flag ;is our troops advanced.

Under the crushing blows both m offence and defence by the British and French armies on the Western front- :n the latter half of this year, it is quite clear that the enemy suffered enormous losses. Both in Flanders and here there are German cemeteries that contain thousands of graves. In one place during the recent advance corpses have been seen hound together in fours \\ ith wire. One wonders if they were destined for the glycerine factory. Gorman pioneers and the transport personnel have been depleted to hold fast the line and generally there is great disorganisation in units. The enemy pears" to be retreating fast to the Mons-Mnubeiige line. In the meantime orders have been issued in view of German emissaries appearing on this front with the white flag to ask for an armistice. Tn the, recent fighting wc have had losses and many good men have gone under. Never in the history of the Division have the diggers been in greater heart. Their morale is truly wonderful.

LONDON November 10

The Divisional Commander, in a special order of the day, expressed to all ranks his appreciation of tlieir work during the past fortnight’s operations. “At no time,” li e adds, “has the Division fought with more spirit and determination; nor have its efforts atany time been crowned with greater success.” He is “convinced that the results achieved are due to the determination of every individual to do his utmost towards the common end.”

NEARING THE END

•November 9,

Today an extraordinary position prevails oil this front. But for the rumble of passing transport and the hum of a few planes, no battle sound meets the ear. Our own as well as the enemy’s guns are silent. The British aitillery has been passed up for miles with advancing infantry, but can find nothing to shoot at. The German armies, which have been in quick retreat have disappeared into the blue. In Le Quesnoy one continues to hear sad tales of the German treatment of British prisoners. One Commandant went along the ranks lashing them with his whip. Hie treatment was so bad on. one occasion that a German sergeant interposed to prevent a German officer illtreating our men. After their hist brilliant achievomen the New Zealanders have come out of the line and the hope is general that the next line they will have to hold will be the Rhine.

November 10

One of the last scenes in the drama of War was enacted to-day in the square of the old frontier town of he Qjuesnoy. At two in the afternoon the President of the French Republic, attended by Frenh officers, and with tricolour flying from his car, drove into the main, square amidst outbursts of cheering. The New Zealanders furnished, a Gu&fJ of Honour, The square

was crowded with our troops and civilians. Many other New Zealanders watched from every window and balcony. and even from the roofs of buildings to which they climbed. When one of our bands struck up the “Marseillaise” there was a renewed outburst of enthusiasm, and children drawn up in the square waved. a welcome with hundreds of flags. General Harper, our corps commander and General Russell, with the members of their staffs and other officers were present. The streets were, ablaze with hunting and in the square itself fluttered in bright kunshine the Allied flags, with the New Zealand ensign in a most prominent position. A French plane living low, circled over this remarkable assemblage and drew forth another hurst of cheering; while a British plan<> which -followed got a similar welcome. [ The President addressing the civic j authorities (among whom was the May or, recently returned from a German prison because lie could not. pay a licaw fine) said that the enemy had now been told the terms on which lie might have an armistice. He must answer Yea m Nay. If he refused those conditions he would he driven from the remaining part of France which he had devastated to liis own borders, and pursued even beyond their confines. The people of France had suffered untold and incalculable miseries; hut it was not France, that would have to pay. It was the enemy. “Citizens of Le Quesnoy,” added M. Poincare, addressing the grey-headed fathers who stood before him uncovered, “you owe your liberty to the action of the Allies armies, and notably to th 0 New Zealand troops who are assembled here to-day.’’ After a brief ceremony, the President walked to the hospital where he sought our Sister St. Jean wlio with other Sisters of Mercy had played such n conspicuous part- in alleviating the terrible sufferings of British prisoners in this town. He found her sorting linen, and thanked her in the name of the Republic for what she liad done. They will tell you, those Sisters, almost with tears, tales of brutality that Englishmen can scarcely believe. Any day on which the British prisoner did not die was a Red Letter day in tlieir calendar. Usually several died each day. Nearby is Mormal Forest, where new history has boon made since. ,Stevenson paddled past it on his inland voyage. There the Princess do Cioy, sister' of the Prince who has been so long associated with tile New Zealand Division as head of the Belgian Mission, fed and clothed the British prisoners. The Princess was placed in solitary confinement in a German prison, where ill almost to death and bau-

ly fed, she languished for a year or more. Tn that wood to-day I saw the graves of many Germans who liad fallen to New Zealand bullets. From the other side of the world just retribution liad at least overtaken them.

THE. END. November 11

The nows of cessation oi hostilities this morning was received very quietly so far as the New Zealand Division was concerned. The infantry had come out of line after the Mormal Forest fighting in wonderful spirit, ana were billctted in villages behind. The artillery fired their last shot yesterday and to-day are trekking back to a well-earned rest. Divisional headquarters was on the point of shifting nearer the front. Imt the move was cancelled, and the .whole Division lias to move further hack. Already the whole Expeditionary Force is concerned with educational and demobilisation schemes. Every effort will be made to occupy and interest the men during what must inevitably prove a trying interregnum. Ordinary military drill must continue, for some considerable time, hut of primary importance is 'the education scheme. The development of the scheme which was started in England by the Y.M.C.A., ecouraged and developed by the command there, and also in France is well in hand already. A tentative scheme" which has been in operation here, during hostilities will now give : place to a more comprehensive scheme ion which the Board had been at work. The method of procedure, selection of staff and estimates of <quipment have been considered. The requirement of all classes of students, from those desirous of obtaining scholarships to those who need elemental y training will he considered. The General estimates that the scheme will cost fifty thousand pounds and expresses the opinion that with the hearty co-opera-tion of military officers here and in New Zealand it will have far-reaching results, and he of incalculable benefit to the Dominion. Already those concerned with it have, been in close Bason with those, responsible for similar scheme in the British army and other overseas forces. An officer (formerly a Professor at Canterbury College) will he in charge of the whole scheme.