MR. HOLMAN'S ESCAPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1917, Page 5

MR. HOLMAN'S ESCAPE.

HOW GENERAL HOLMES WAS TOLLED. Mr. Holman (Premier of New Soutli Wales) has thus described the accident on the Western front: We were passing a battery of anti-aircraft guns, which were engaging a hostile aeroplane. I said: "This is exciting. Let's watch." Major-General Holhks stopped the car, and we got out and watched the encounter for some minutes, until a shell fell in a neighboring paddock. General Holmes said "They have spotted you, Holman." Another shell fell in'the game locality. General Holmes said, "This is unhealthy. Let us move," and we proceeded for a quarter of a mile. We wen* again watching the duel when a third shell fell, killing General Holmes. This was probably a loose shell, aimed at the anti-aircraft guns, or a random shot intended to search for British positions. Other accounts of the death of MajorGeneral Holmes 011 the West front state that the party motored up. to the vicinity of Ploegstoert Wood, intending to go up along the flank of the wood. Major-General Holmes, however, con-, sidered this route somewhat of a "hot spot,' and said, "We will go along the ! base of the. wood." ■ A shell fell about thirty yards away. A second one fell Borne distance from it. The fatal shell fell after the party had left the car, ft seemed as if the Germans were search-, ing for - "an anti-aircraft battery or am-' munition dumps, a; the shells fell as if the guns were sweeping in an arc. The party left the car, leaving the chauffeur in charge, and were standing fairly close together when a shell fell about ten to fifteen yards away, and exploded with a terrific report. All the party were knocked flat on the ground, When Mr. Holman recovered himself, in a dense cloud of dust, he said to Mr. Edwards, hig secretary,. "The General is badly hit.' Both went to Major-General Holmes, who was, found in a kneeling position, resting on his hands and knees, staring ahead, ap-; parently unable to move or speak. They lifted him up, and carried him to the,, car. He had a gaping wound in the back, which was bleeding freely. Asubsequent examination showed that a piece of shell had pierced the lower back, near the spine. It passed upwards and onwards through the chest. Death must have been instantaneous. Mr. Holman was not hit, nor any other members of the party. The chaffeur was thrown, forward on the bonnet of the car, but wa6 not injured. The shell fell on solid - rock, and made a hole several inches deep. The hood of the car was wrecked. Major-General Holmes was placed in the car and conveyed to ft dressing station.