RED LANE OF DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1917, Page 7

RED LANE OF DEATH

HOUSE'S THRILLING STCKY. Nurse Elizabeth Draper, who left Australia, tv, o years ago in charge (jt a batch of Australian nurse?, returned a week or iwo ago. Recounting her ox - periences to a Sydney Sun representative, Nurse Draper said that she spent thirteen months in Egypt, where she Vtas night superintendent at a hospital which contained 2000 wounded Australians.

"On finishing tip in Egypt, the Australians were sent- to the West front,'' continued Nurse Draper. "We arrived there early this year I left there ;\vo I months ago. We were six miles behind the liring line when the big push started. The roar of the big guns was like that of a thousand thunderstorms rolled into one. It started at three o'clock in the morning, and continued without interjnission for three days and nights. It was impossible to sleep during the | whole of that time, It was stated that at Delaval Wood alone over :!00,iM)0 troops jumped the pai apets at the same instant and charged the fiermans. In the reai big offensive, the Allied troops taking part were counted by the hundred thousand. During this tremendous time railway traffic was held tip to permit. of the wounded being brought back to the receiving stations. The losses on both sides were very heavy . At High Wood out of one batch of South Africans who went out to the attack only tlnee came back. The three of I them were badly wounded. "The Australians are absolutely adored in England and France. Their beHaviour and discipline are splendid. Before the 'Pozieres rush General Birdwood said to General Haig: Give me one division of An?:acs and another division to reinforce, and I will guarantee to take the strongest position on the West front,. General Haig agVeed, and sent the Atizaes to Pozieres. You know the splendid woi'k they performed. "It is really most annoying when one comes back to Australia, and hears the remarks about'there being 110 need for volunteering. The people who speak like that do not seem to realise there is a. war 011. France has given millions of her best men. Nearly every woman in France is in black. Hardly a family has escaped the grim toll of war. One never sees fashionably dressed -women taking afternoon tea in the cafes in I'aris and other cities. The women of France realise that tftey have to take big parts in this struggle, and are doing men's work in the fields and other avenues of employment. Coming away in the train with a number of wounded soldiers, we were handed tea and refreshments at, various stopping places by ladies whose names are among the best known in Europe. They are Red Cross workers, and although it rained in torrents during a greater poition of the journey, these women, dressed in mackintoshes, sou'-westers and gum boots toiled on tirelessly.

"Altogether there are 224 Australian nurses in l'rance. We tamped under canvas, and. sometimes, when supplies uere short, we lived for days on bully beef mid military bread, the latter being as hard as bricks. Sometimes the tents leaked, and it was no uncommon thing' to have to put up umbrellas to Keep the rain off our beds.

''When I left there the winter had set in, and the stretcher-bearers were often bogged to their knees in mud. There was not much severe fighting going on. It was on this account that the Germans were probably able to release large numbers of men and launch thein on to the attack of Roumania. Large numbers of the men who formed the attacking force in Roumania were from the West front. It was not a new army, as is stated in some quarters. That is mv impression, and jt is shared by many miiltarv authorities. "In France the people are warned to keep a sharp look-out for German spies. Thousands of notices are posted in prominent places': 'Hold your tongue; distrust everybody; the ears of the enemy may hear you.'"