HISTORIC SCENES.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1921, Page 1

HISTORIC SCENES.

OLD BATTLE LINK REVISITED. MR HINDI IBS’ TOUR. LONDON, Aug. ‘2o The special correspondent of the Australian Press Association. telegraphing from Baris, stales that, alter his trying tour. Mr Hughes arrived there' to-night, having inspected the ruins of Albert. On the way the Ist Divisional iminiimenl at Bozieres was passed, and the crater at La Boisselle, which was blow u out by He Brit iso troops, and is one t;f the largest n ado during the war. being over lot yards across. Ik- saw Kan ago Valley, which is famous fur concent rated artillery work. Ii" a iso sav Criillalmaixoii and Bozieres. the stone ol the IDivisiun's earliest jqeat ojieration in France. One of the cemcterii s nearby shews end! ss rows of name of men associated with from H-e 1-1 t-i the 1 Battalions. B'.e.ii ics is now only a name, powdered brick's marking the once prosperous village. .Mi Hughes listened :o details uf lids operation, which la 'or merged into the terrible light at Mo.iqiie- Kami.

Moving towards Bapaunie a mark ot j iv s[hac 1 was paid at the British icii.c- ---,: v at Warleiicourt. Mr Hughes tlmn passed l.e Barque. Ligny. Thilloy, ttuendeeaiirt. and Kiev.-, rames which nil associated with lorriiir trench lighting in the closing nmiit!i« ol DM-'. ce.niiti'y is ueacelul eno'ig.i no ' . (hough il is curious to fuel mini "(hd vivi.fr,"-minders of the tragic incidents. Bnpaume, which is associated wii-h the Australians’ march in KK". "as closely inspected. A move was made to Mont Kt Quentin, where the monument, mark:. Major-General Kir Charles Rosenthal’s, second divisional success, the rapidity and audacity ol the advance overcoming the resistance ol the Prussian Guard. This was one of the few battles where actual bayonet lighting hand-to-hand combats were engaged in, especially in overcoming the Prussia ns’ counter-attack. Royalty could not have been more enthusiastically greeted than was. Mr Hughes in passing along the old battle j-,., Villagers turned out in force, cheering and throwing lhovers. although the procession of eight cars at times exceeded a speed of dll miles an hour. There was a touching scene At Bozieres, where n child. dressed m white, presented a bouquet uf Mowers, while another read an address, the explosion dumps nearby reminding the party of the hitter days. The stirroundiim country has nut been touHied. the pitted shell holes, riltes. bayonets, duds, bombs, and the debus of war Ivino in all dire,'lions. Mr Hughes toyed with a Mills bomb until hastily warned of the danger. Hundreds ot these lie unexploded around the countryside.

'Along the road a search party was seen working, and Mr Hughes descended in lime lo witness the discovery of two bodies and a walorprnui sluvU The >lm‘H liolos suv other here in an unbroken chain. H is expected that the spol will yield many missing men. The party climbed the crest ol Moiil Saint Quentin, inspecting a pillbox and entering tunnels. Ai Re,mine there was a ceremony in a hall veniilaled by shellholes. Mr Hughes was given eight addresses, and listened to hi speeches, lie delivered live speeches him.-ell. The French wete greatly interested. The grave of Sergeant ( iaude ( • Castk-Lon, V.C.. at Bozieres, wax visited.' Ton much ground has hem, reserved here. That not required is being returned to the commune by the Gomnumwealtl'i. Mr Hughes left Amiens to-night To-morrow he will confer with ‘he French Government, and will join the night train for the south. AUSTRALIA AND FRANCE.

The Australian Rress Association s correspondent, writing from Amiens, states Dial Mr Hughes cnteilaincd General Philipot and the municipal tliu;nit:iri<*s at iliuiio.’.

Mr Hughes, in the course ol a speech, said, people who talked about breaking the Entente should see wlial lu. had seen llioio. It was a symbol of the lie between the nations. Ile would say on behalf of Australia lhal France was a great country, equally great in peace. I'ivilisui ion would have groped in darkness Inn for this nation, with its gorgeoss records in arts, sciences, and liiernlure. The very name ol Fin nee was a synonym for valour. ••If Australia is to hold what she luis.” continued Mr Hughes. and achieve more she must have triends. Where would she find them. except among those who faced the greatest trial to which humanity had been ex-po-.-d since the beginning ol the world.' It i> my fervent hope that !■ ranee, which conquered m war. which was our ally and our friend, should remain so. It is a gieut- honour for representatives ol voting nations lo he so iccoived, and I will lake this message of welcome hack to Australia. We are a nation of but yesieidav like a Mower opening in llie morning but we have proved ourselves lit to stand beside even France. "'l’lic future of civilisation. he declared, "was likely to he fostered and nourished as lie saw it, through the influence oi the British Empire and Fiance.” . . General IMiitipot. in reply, said : ■■Wo love the Australians as liiemb far across the sea, hut more as con,rad', s and brothers in aims."