FOILED GERMAN RAIDERS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 284, 15 June 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOILED GERMAN RAIDERS.

HOW THE NEW ZEALANDERS STEMMED A RUSH. IMMEDIATE AWARDS FOR VALOUR,

(From Malcolm Ross, War Correspondent with tho New Zealand Forces in the Field.) Northern France, March 5. About a week ago, shortly before dawn, the enemy suddenly opened a fierce bombardment upon the l'ront and support lines of some trenches that tha New Zealanders happened at the moment to bo holding. A few machinegunners, some men with Lewis guns and a few infantry were in that particular sector. The bombardment lasted for an hour, and thert could be no doubt that is presaged a raid. It was just aftei five o'clock in the morning when the straining eyes of our look-outs saw between ninety and a hundred Germans following their bombardment across No. Man's Land. But. o,| t that lot onlysix ever reached our front line, and of those six, one mortally wounded by our tfire, was taken prisoner. The enemy had come over for identifications, which lie probably got. But the New Zealanders stood their ground with a gallantry, endurance and devotion to duty worthy of the highest praise, and whilo the Germans got their identification, we aTso succeeded in getting ours. Among those who stuck it out during the severe bombardment and showed tho greatest gallantry was Bte. Leonard Boss Dickinson. He was with a Lewisgun detachment 011 the left, and it was his lot that suffered most from tho bombardment. Out of five men three were killed and one wounded by a i-iunnenwvi'fer that exploded near the gun position. Dickinson, who was the remaining man left, stuck to his position throughout, and was largely instrumental in driving back the enemy. With the utmost disregard of danger lie continued firing until hii» magazines ran out. Wm. Elliot Gordon, a Lewis-gunner, was the first to sea the enemy approach, lug across No Man's Land, in the dim light. He immediately gave the alarm and at once turned his gun on the <memy. Throughout the whole bombardment and attack he displayed great courage, initiative and devotion to duty. John T. Clearwater, who was in command of a night post during the raid, showed great bravery and coolness. When \ few of the enemy entered the trench, ho checked their progress and drove them back, showing an utter contempt of danger, and setting a fine example to his men. Pto. Frederick Andrew Brill kept his machine gun in action throughout the raid, and after two of the men had been wounded, repelled a bombing attack from tiie rear. He it was who shot the German who was taken prisoner, by means of which the identification of the attacking regiment was obtained, All these men were recommended lor immediate reward, and each of them has received the Military Medal. The other day, during a visit to the front, I saw some of the men who were in this encounter. The General was having a look at their dug-outs, and, learning that they were the men who had behaved so gallantly, he called up a corporal who was standing by. " You are the men who were in the raid the other night?" he said. 'Yes, sir," replied the corporal. " Well, you did splendidly," added the General. "We are very proud of our machine gunners, sir," was all the corporal said. "You're a damned fine lot." remarked the General, as lie turne.-l on his heel and went his way. As the corporal saluted I could his eyes become moist 'it the compliment he had received from his General, and, as I followed along the trench, I could hear the corporal proudly repeating to the men of his

platoon the General's last remarks, with, if anything, a little more empha. sis on the adjective. It was but a little incident in a three hours' walk at the front on a pleasant day, but there was something intensely human in it, and the compliment rang so true that itfixed itself in the memory of those who were privileged to witness it.

OTHER AWARDS. The system of immediate awards, which, of late, our army has instituted, is, without doubt, an excellent one, and one that will help us on to victory. Not only is it, an incentive to further gallant deeds and devotion to duty on tho part of the recipients of awards, hut it is an incentive and an inspiration to the whole of the unit concerned. Three other instances of similar awards May well be mentioned. Corpl. John M'Quillan, during a heavy bombard, mcnt, and in spite of minnenwerfer Vimbs and shrapnel fire that was bursting about him, kept his trench mortar in action for 4o minutes, and fired over a hundred rounds into No Man's Land on an advancing enemy attempting a raid, thus assisting materially in their defeat. This corporal, in the words o* the official recognition, has shown great courage and fine powers of leadership. Sergeant Walter James Murray, with a rifleman who was afterwards kijlefl in tho bombardment, opened fire on an advancing raiding party that was on U»*s point of coming over the parapet, and. at personal risk, continued until they turned and fled. He had already deno gallant work in a raid on tho Sonnne, in September, and his courage has always been an inspiration to his men.

Sergeant Adrian John -Ma-on, when Ihe battery to winch he i-. attached was under heavy fire, did a heroic thinir. Three men were wounded, two of them seriously, in a billet close by. He went nlom> to the bilk-t, bandaged the wounds of the three men and <iot two of them away. The third man he carried on his back a distance of three hundred yards to safety. He undouliL. <xlly saved their jives, lie has been conspicuous for aets of gallanrty on other occasions as rweiT.

('riticisir is ciiiKat in frozen trad.- circles rejjnj-diii?; the rwsil "iiu■nenis to ljiit.iin. It is p-daU-l mil that while complaints have bean i-eo!c of the shortage ef refrigerated si.ee end the urgent ne-ed of sp;u-e fer n:e:;t '.ii the Aibnriltv account a vcrv hire perlirn c.f the laeat shipped has been ewe mutton and laieb whil" milv wcthfr mutton is n-ed I'i.r 'he ::i->;i\ and raw, and it ;> -tated that ti■ • <■' !:-•;■ kinds are disposed ef thniieh erdiie.. v trade channel-; at hit;!; prnliis f<>■ ivU consumption. Tho-e iatei.ltd is tie' trad.- consider Hi' ina.ttei- leijibir; iastant investigation The (Jenernl Offit or Coliiniand nj: tile \ Defence Fol't es has rub d as follows : —" \ eteraiK in pes e--'un of I!vitish war medals nay b" awarded military funeral, provided that uo CNpen- :■ to tlie public is it curred." 'I here are !1 freezing works in HDominion, 25 be iif in tie- North 1-arl and 11) in the S. :,tli Mand. works have a tola! dailv ■•killing" pa city of m 0,30') sheep and .'WOO cattle. 1 lie steratre spa'e is roual to 4,017,'Wl freight CareaM's of GOIh eaeli.