Stopping a Gap

Levin Daily Chronicle, 11 June 1918, Page 1

Stopping a Gap

NEW ZEALANDERS' WORK.

PART IN" GREAT DEFENSIVE,

[ When. the Germans launched their offensive on March 21 the New Zealandi ers were out of the line, writes the official war correspondent. They were receiving instruction at one of the military schools, and j>ractising manoeuvres in open' pleasant country well behiud the line. In the afternoon word came through that they were to be ready to move at short notice. In two days the brigades were entraining.. As these Northern men, with some of the Rifles, came on to the front, the situation was undergoing some change, so that at the last moment there had to be an alteration of plans. With the units that went into action there was also .a mackine-gun company, and a trench mortar battery armed with rifles. The troops went forward at half-past five, and for the first half hour the resistance was slight, although fire was opened by enemy machine gunners the moment our troops began to approach what was known as the Apple Tree Spur. The advance continued without a groat deal of opposition until a point was reached about two hundred yards west of a sunken road. Then the casualties began to be rather heavy, but the troops pushed on and established themselves in old trenches and communication trenches some 200 yards east of the road. At. this stage the attack was suspended. During the night the enemy made two determined bombing attacks against the left of our front, but were driven off on each occasion. The following day passed quietly. By the time night fell some 74 prisoners and 11 machine . guns had been captured. CAPTURE OP LA SIGNY. Next morning the Now Zealand commander on the spot, having personally reconnoitred a portion of his front held by Auckland troops, came to the conclusion that it was imperative to push his line forward at this point, and at 2 p.m. on March 30, the attack on La Signy Farm was launched, men of the Wellingtons and Rifles co-operating. The attack was launched under an excellent artillery barrage, the infantry having to cross about four hundred yards of open, level With a splendid rush they went forward, and in four minutes they were in the. enemy trench, the barrage at the same moment lifting to beyond the objective. Here a large number of the enemy were discovered cowering in their trenches to avoid our artillery fire. The reply from the enemy's guns was not heavy, ana what there was of it absolutely missed our men owing to the quickness with which they charged forward. Machinegun fire came from the neft and also from the right, but the New Zealanders were on to the machine guns in many cases before they could get properly into action. Cases actually occurred of men jumping into a trench and killing the German gunners just as the barrage had lifted and as the latter were endeavouring to get their machines into action. The sucqess of this brilliant little attack was, noi doubt, due to the element of surprise and the magnificent clash with which our infantry crossed the open. Often our men rushed the enemy machine-guns with the greatest bravery. In the attack on this farm a sergeant went for one gun's crew single-handed, shot the crew, and put the gun out of action. It was a gun that for the time being had stopped the advance at that particular point, and had put several .of our men out of action. MANY PRISONERS AND" GUNS. Practically every man in the enemy ranks who resisted was killed, but nevertheless we got a great haul of prisoners and machine-guns—29s of the former and 110 of the latter along the whole frontage of not more than 1500 yards. Among the prisoners were elements rf four regiments.

During the early stages of these operations a New Zealand officer, already noted for his bravery and his great strength, again distinguished himself. Like many others, he had been travelling for five days with little rest or sleep, yet took h'is company into action in good condition and perfect, order. On March 27, when several of his men were killed and wounded by shellfire, he went to the spot where the wounded lay and attended to them. Lifting one man on to his broad shoulders, he carried him out to safety. During the whole time he was working with the wounded the place was being swept with heavy machine-gun fire. A yo»ng officer, who had charge of the left ef the attack, took his company into action in an admirable manner. In the early stages of the attack ho was wounded, but, continued to lead his men. When they were stopped by machine gun fire, lie personally directed them, and largely owing to his initiative and coolness the objective was finally reached. Just before this lie was again wonndi'd. and had to be carried from the field.

When speaking on the death-rate of children at a meeting in Auckland Bishop Avcrill dwelt upon the selfishness of mothers. He had only to go into any place of amusement that evening, and he would' sec dozens of mere babies being kept there by their entirely selfish mothers in an atmospliore that was ruinous to a constitution. The speakor said a great fight should bo made against, the selfishness and ignorance of this class of young mother. The greatest self-sacrifice in the community was made by mothers, and it was only through ignorance that so many sinned against the health of the child and its moral welfare. Owing to the war the , nation would be deprived of a great part of its manhood, and any community that W513 doing its best for its children was doing its best for the Empire. x ; A writer in the Wellington "Times" says: —Don't grouse! Our forebears lived without sugar until the 13th century, without coal till the 14th, without butter till the 15th, without tobacco and potatoes till the 16th, without tea, coffee, and soap till the 17th. without umbrellas, lamps and puddings till the 18th, wirhout trains, telegrams, gas, matches and chloroform till the 19th, and yet pruplc talk of "The Good Old Days." < The Featherston correspondent of t* e "Wairarapa A r e\vs'' says: The final scene in the case GalbraiTi v. Kilmartin took place 011 Satui Jay morning, when Miss Kilmartin was evicted, her furniture being put. out of the house into the back yard. It will be remembered that action was brought by Mr Galbraith against Miss Kilmartin, a school teacher, to obtain possession of the house, which he stated he required for an employee. Miss Kilmartin could not get another place or suitable lodgings, and so declined to move. The Court ruled against her, and a warrant of ejectment was issued in due course and executed on Saturday. An eviction is an unusual thing in the W.airarapa, ind the event has caused a great deal of comment in Featherston. Miss Kilmartin has found temporary refuge