A VISIT TO THE FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1916, Page 5

A VISIT TO THE FRONT.

HO.\. W. C. CARNCROSS' EXPERIENCES. AX INTERESTING LECTURE. An interesting address, describing tin: experiences of Zealand Parliamentarians who visited England and 1 lie war none at the invitation of the British Government, was given by the Hon. 'A'. C V. Cnrneross. MX.C., who was one of the party, before a fair audience in the Good Templar Hall, New Plymouth, last evening. A nominal charge was made at tlie door and the proceeds will lie devoted lo (lie Wounded Soldiers' Fund. _ The Mayoi (Mr. C.H. Burgess) prosided, and associated with him on the platform were Hon. 0. Samuel, MX C„ Mr. T. Kelly, ex-M.L.C., and members of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee. In introducing the speaker, the Mayor expressed the thanks of th Patriotic Committee to liini (or his readiness in responding to the invitation e.vlended to liini to speak in New Plymouth. Mr. Cnrneross said he would not set out to teach those present anything in connection with the war, but it' ho could help the wounded soldiers he would very gladly do so. His. address would deal chiefly with the lighter side of the war. Xo doubt the people had heard enough of the .sad side.

LUXURIOUS CAN AD rAN HOTELS. He would first refer to what he met with in Canada. Mr. Carncross said he had no idea of the money spent on luxury until he visited Canada. Hcie the hotels were sumptuously furnished, and everything that could possibly be wanted was provided. The attention paid was just something extraordinary. The New Zealand delegates met a number of very congenial companions in Canada, and Mr. Carncross entertained the audience with amusing anecdotes. "You can't get along without tipping in Canada," said Mr. Carncross, and if a visitor does not tip he gets very little attention. ACROSS THE PLAINS. The delegates were taken fat a drive, across the prairie in a motor-car. and they enjoyed one of the most delightful experiences they had ever had. The beautiful flowers that were everywhere to be seen,, and the fragrant perfume that pervaded the air, were something to be remertibered. The motor-ear n which the delegates were driven became stuck. A party of Red Indians approached, and their services were invited. No .move, however, was made by the Indians, who,' looked on stoically while the party did its best to extricate the machine." Afi«" a lot of bargaining the natives leni their help, but they had to be paid for every pound of energy they expended. The sneaker said he found the Canadians to be a most free. easy, jolly, and pleasant people. The ladies were particularly nice.

VISIT TO NEW YORK. From Canada the visitors passed on to ' v'cw York. On enquiring for a bed at ■ne of the hotels eight dollars was asked ■•r. The speaker advised anyone visitI Now York to sleep in the hotels ud dine in one of the many excellent T.-'L'.uirants, where meals could be obInincii at ? reasonable rate. The American never failed, when pointing to a sky-scraper, to inform the visitor of the cost of it. In England the age ct :t hiilding was the point most com m ted on. The speaker preferred the information supplied by the English. (Laughter.) PASSAGE TO BRITAIN. ' The passage to England was made in a British ship which carried very few passengers. People were afraid to travel in British steamers owing, to the risk of submarines. In answer to the ndvi'e of the Americans, the delegate said they preferred to sink under the British flag than to crawl into a British port in aii American steamer. (Applause.) Boat drill was held regularly, and the ship zig-zagged all the way. As the audience could imagine, the delegates were very glad when two British vessels appeared to escort the steamer to.port. England was a very beautiful place, resumed Mr. Carncross, but the visitors' journeys across the country were frequently tinctured with sadness, for their trains were often ordered to stop while trains carrying wounded soldiers passed. THE MUNITION FACTORIES. The delegates were permitted to visit munition factories, and as day after day they trudged through them they became footsore and weary. Thousands of acres were covered by the factories where two years ago there was not a brick in place. There were 3000 or 4000 of these factories. In one factory alone the machines, if placed end to end, would reach nine miles.

Wonderful work was being done by the girls in these factories. The speaker said he saw fully 00,000 of them at work. Thoy manifested a remarkable dexterity, and high wages were being earned by them. Tt was \\a uncommon thing for one family, father, mother, and a couple of daughters, to earn ,C2O per week. The speaker referred to a sad feature in connection with the female munition workers. They were exceedingly thriftless, he said, and spent their money as quipkly as they earned it on luxury and cheap jewellery. Notwithstanding this, added Mr. Carncross, the women were doing a great deal to save England. A visit to a munition factory at night was a unique experience. Had Dante witnessed a scene the speaker saw, prior to writing his visions of hell, he would have added another chapter or two to his work. The great fires, the noise, and the surroundings were bewildering. The visited dockyards and were shown a large number of immense ships of war which were being fitted with guns of unprecedented calibre. "If those ships get into action and those guns find their mark, someone is going to get hurt," the speaker added. The splendid organisation of the munitions supply was largely due to the genius of Mr. Lloyd George, whose name in England was something to conjure with. (Appause.) In his great scheme for organising the munitions supply he enlisted the assistance of the greatest commercial men in Britain. The supply ,of munitions was maintained very satisfactory, and it must bh remembered; added the lecturer, that Britain had not only to supply its own needs, hut also the needs of the allies fighting with her. NEAR THE FIRING LINE. The visitors proceeded to France, Mr. Carncross went on, and here they mot I with their most interesting experiences.

On tlic- way across the Channel, the stunner oii which they travelled was escorted by destroyers. All precautions were taken against submarine attack. Olio of the first scenes the party witnessed was a review of Algerian cavalry. The men were of a magnificent type and were mounted on fine horses. Both men and animals were spoiling for a fight, and it was an inspiriting scene to see tlieiu at tin,- gallop. The visitors were taken to the French front, but there was not much to see from that, point. They motored on to Armcntieres, and here they got into elose touch with tin- fighting. The lil'st impression the visitors received ot the fighting was gained from the numerous which were sent up In the Germans to illuminate No Man's Land. Tin! visitors were met by Generals Russell and Johnston. The former was a nephew of Sir William Russell, M.l.and the ialter was the sou of the }Jon. Mr.-Johnston, Speaker of the Legislative Cmnu-i). The.se generals were held in the highest esteem by the men, who would do anything for thorn. The men had unlimited confidence in them. The speaker could not Bay the same of all the Xew Zealand generals.

At Armcntieres the, Y.M'C.A, was doing wonderful work to help the men. of whom every pare was taken, and they were provided with entertainments and baths, The delegates wero accommodated in an old French mission, a twostoried building which had sull'ered from the effects of the shell-fire. They were provided with gas helmets, which they were instructed to keep handy in case ot an attack. All through the night tho noise of the shells echoed through the building. The speaker said that, notwithstanding the noise, he slept well He was awakened in the morning by the sound of guns. L\ THE TRENCHES. Attired in uniforms and wearing steel helmets the visitors were guided by General Johnston to tho trenches. They trudged for three hours thfough a maze of trenches until they reached the very front line. The Germans were only 150 or 200 yards away. Tlie soldiers, said Mr. C'arncross, took great pride in the care of their sectors, and it was amusing to hear a trooper ''strafe" the Germans for the damage they had done. The lecturer described the men, who were New Zealanders, as being a very jolly lot. As the party proceeded they came to a portion of a trench where the parapet had been blown away, and they were advised to stoop. "I never stooped lower in my life," added Mr. Carncross, amidst laughter. Occasionally the visitors were permitted to look over the parapets for a halfsecond, and they were enjoined not to look over twice at the same place. "I obeyed instructions implicitly," Mr. Carncross added. They passed an exposed area, and as they did so General Johnston walked as if he would never get under cover. The speaker breathed more freely when they got round the corner. BIG GUNS AT WORK. At the instance of one of the officers, the delegates were allowed to see the big guns at, work. They were lucky, for a shell landed in a place where they had been standing a few minutes before. They visited a village which had been racked with shell-lire, and was deserted. The furniture and clocks were just as the occupants of the houses had left them. "They are safe," said -Mr. C'arncros.,, "for the New Zealanders don't loot." (Applause.)

The visitor;' woro escorted to a listen'.n:,' post, and there had the unique exicrienci; of staying for a short time in so Plan's Land. In the evening Mr. urncross and his companions were enertained hy the officers at dinner. Mr. I'oni Seddon and Dr. Buck were there, and Major Claude Weston, who came specially from the trenches, was present ut Mr. Carneross' special instance. "The. most disappointing feature of the trip," Mr. Carneross observed, "W.IH the fact that, although I was within two miles of the Tnranaki boys, I didn't see. them. Had I been able, I would have walked four or live miles to converse with them." (Applause.) The visitors saw many aeroplanes in l'ranee and in England. Mr. l.ee. it legal friend of his from Oamaru, went up in one, and as he soared into the air the speaker said lie could not help observing to himself: "Well, ray friend, you are as near heaven as any lawyer svill get!'' (Laughter.) THE WAR AND LONDON. In London the theatres and restaurants were crowded, and there was much gaiety and spending of money. That there, was a war on was made evident by the large number of soldiers to be seen in tin streets, and by tlm darkness of the city at night. Evidence of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted not many hours' journey away was borne home to anyone visiting Charing Cross, where hundreds of motor ambulances were engaged conveying wounded men to the hospitals. NEW ZEALANDERS' REPUTATION. "The New Zealnnders have, won a great, reputation for themselves in Britain," the lecturer resumed, "their behaviour having been so excellent." (Applause.) Mr. Carneross uttered comforting advice to those who had wounded friends in England. The axiom, "Xo news is good nesva," could be regarded as correct as far as wounded men were :oneerned, for as soon as men took a turn for the worse, next-of-kin were notified of their condition. The men were in the most loving hands, and were given every care.

THE BRITISH FLEET. The speaker described tlie destruction of a Zeppelin in Essex (brought down by Flight-Commander Robinson), which lie had the good fortune to witness. He then went on to recount his experiences when he visited tho British Fleet. It was on this occasion that the visitors were given some! impression of the might and majesty of the British Navy. The. sight was one that would long live in their memories. They went on board the New Zealand, and were startled and amused by an imitation of the Maori haka, which a number of the crew, dressed and disguised like Maoris, gave them as a welcome. The New Zealand had a turret damaged in the Jutland light, and from what he could learn she had done great work in the encounter with the German licet, lie was greatly taken with the naval ollieoi's. They were calm, quiet and confident, and truly magnificent men. The visitors met Admirals Jellicoe and I'entty. Firing; and work with dummy torpedoes was witnessed. The visitors woie tremendously impressed with what they saw, CONFIDENCE IX BRITAIN. Concluding, Mr. Carneross sa:d he was impressed with the ewriousncss with