THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 November 1918, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

TAKING OFJM QUESNOX ■(Continued from last issue) LONDON, Nov 10. * The Divisional Commander, in a special order of the day, expressed to all ranks his appreciation of their work during the past fortnight's operations. "At no time," he adds, "has the Division fought with more spirit and determination; nor have its efforts at any time been crowned with greater success." He is "convinced that the results achieved are due to• ihe determination of every individual to do his utmost towards the common end." . ,: sJ . NBARING THE END. November 9. To-day an extraordinary position prevails on 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 artillery has been passed up for miles with advancing infantry, but ©an find nothing to shoot at. The German a?niies, 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. O ne Commandant went along the Tanks lashing them ■with his whip. The treatment was so ibad on one occasion that a German , sergeant interposed to prevent a German officer ill-treating our men. After their last brilliant achievement the New Zealanders have come out of the line, and the hope is general that r.he 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 squf/e of the old frontier town of Le Quesnoy. At two in the afternoon the President of the French Republic, attended by French officers, and with the tricolour flying from his car, drove into the main square amid outbursts of cheering. The New Zealancers furnished a guard 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 had 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 bunting, and in" the square itself fluttered in bright sunshine the Allied flags, with the New ; Zealand ensign in the most prominent position. A French plane, flying low, circled over this remarkable assemblage and drew forth another fourst of cheering; while a British plane which followed, got a similar welcome. ' • The President, addressing the civic authorities (among whom was the Mayor, resently returned from a German prison because he would not pay a heavy fine) said that the enemy had now been told the terms on which he - might have an armistice. He must answer i Yea or Nay. If he refuel those conditions he would be driven from the remaining part cf France, which he had devastated, to his own .borders, and pursued even beyond their confines. The people of Franc* had suffered untold and incalculable miseries; but it was not France that would have to pay; it was the enemy. "Citizens of Le Quesnoy," added M. Poincare, addressing the grey-heade'l fathers who stood before him \mem*l ered, "you owe your liberty to the ac ' tion of the Allied armies, and notably / to the New Zealand troops who are ss ?™ bl ed. here to-dajr".,'*.. After a brief ceremony, the President walked to the hospital, where he sought out Sister St. Jean, who with other Sisters of Mercy had played such a conspicuous part, in alleviating the terrible of Britisll pris . ° ners . \a tills town. He found her iililing linen, and thanked her in the Siame of the Republic for what she . had done. They will toll-you, tke's'e J Sisters, almost with tears, tals of brutality that Englishmen can scarcely believe. Any day on which a British prisoner did not die was a red-letter day in their calendar. Usually several died each day. Near by is Mor* mal Forest, where new history has been made since. Stevenson' paddled past it on his inland voyage. There the Princess de Crd'y, sister of the Prince who has been so long associated with the New Zealand Division as 3iead 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 badly fed, she languished for a year or more. In that /wood to-day I saw the graves of many Germans who had fallen to New Zealand bullets.' . From the other side cf the world just retribution had o T ;c'.'- i iaken them. i

THE END. November 11. The news of cessation of hostilities this morning was received very quietly so far as the New Zealand Division vvas concerned. The infantry had come out of the line after the Mormal Forest fighting in wonderful spirit, and were billeted in villages behind. The artillery fired their last shot yesterday, and to-day are treking back to a well-earned rest. Divisional headquarters was on the point of shifting nearer the front, but the move was cancelled, and the whole Division has to.move further Jaack. 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, but of primary importance is the education scheme. The development of the scheme, which was started in England by the Y.M.G.A., encouraged 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 on which tbe Board has been at work. The method of procedure ,selection of staff and estimates for equipment have been considered. The requirements of all classes of students, from those desirous of obtaining scholarships to those who need elementary will be considered. The General estimates that the scheme will cost fifty thousand pounds and expresses the opinion that with the hearty co-operation of military officers here and in New Zealand" it will have far-reaching results, and be of incalculable benfit to the. Dominion. Already those concerned with it have been in close liaison with those responsible for similar schemes in the British Army and other overseas forces. An officer (formerly a Professor at Canterbury College) will be in charge of the whole scheme.