AFTER THE BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1917, Page 7

AFTER THE BATTLE.

A SPORTS MEETING AT THE FRONT (From Malcolm Koss, Correspondent with the N.Z, Forces in the Field), July, 1917. After they had fulfilled their contract in the Battle of Mesaino* the New Zea'landers came out of the line for a rest. Strictly a "rest'' does not necessarily mean cessation from work. The force has still to be fed, and there is still much work to do, if not for your •own unit, for someone else's. Some of "the New Zealanders have recently had experiences of a somewhat novel kind. •Instead ,of the old stalemate trenches, there were open spaces that permitted of considerable patrol work, both by day • -and by night. Thoy went into the thing •thoroughly from the start, and acquitted ■themselves splendidly. Unfortunately one cannot go into details, but one of their dare-devil adventures may be mentioned. An officer and "one other rank" went out in broad daylight, and wandered down the streets of a village still in German occupation. The Boehe must 'have been indulging in an afternoon sleep or an overdose of his favorite beverage. At any rate he was not on the qui vive. Going into one of the houses the two New Zealanders found four Germans there. One fled, but the other three were made prisoners, and proudly marched back into tho New Zealand lines, where this new "stunt" was hailed, for a time, with much merriment and a considerable incredulity. But, to return to the sports meeting. One day the great majority of our menwere taken away from their rest billets and told off to various jobs. It was thought this would interfere with the success of the sports meeting. With characteristic decision and promptness, however, the New Zealand Command sent motor lorries many miles there and back to take the competitors from these 'units to the sports. The meeting lasted four days, and there was, at times, azl attendance of about 7000. Indeed, the crowd was so great on one day that the field in which the sports took place would not comfortably hold it. The Corps Commander and several visitors from other Divisions attended. The first day was devoted to the boxing cents, for which there were 02 entries. An excellent ring had been built up in the middle of the field, so that the spectators had a good view of the contests. The winner of the heavy-weight contest proved himself a sound boxer, while the winner of tho light heavy-weights was a man with a .great punch, who won each of his fights in 20 seconds. Somewhat appropriately the heavy and light-weight events were won by the Military Police, which fact •will no doubt be duly noted by those delinquents who, on occasions, have a reputation for bumping up against authority. The second day was devoted to swimming, in Which there were ten events. The authorities were lucky in finding an old grßvel pit full of water, and in this the various events were decided. Fifty yards in diameter and twelve feet deep, it answered the purpose quite well. There were 279 entries in one race alone —the fifty yards dash. The svent was rushed through in heats of twelve competitors at a time. As soon as twelve men were mustered thev wore started across the pond, and another twelve were ready in a few minutes to follow them. The pond was thus kept in a constant state of commotion. There were several ex-New Zealand • champions .among the competitors in the swimming events, and considering all the circumstances quite good times were made. . The third day—Sunday—was devoted to a "gymkhana," the entries for many •erf, the events having been limited to so many per brigade. The great feature of the day was the jumping event for N.C.O.'s arid men riders.' There were no Tewer than 78 entries for it,, and the jumping was quite good. The Maoris won the tug-of-war-i-a tremendously popular victory.

Practically every 'battalion of our •force has now had its sports meeting since the Battle of Messines, and one 'brigade had a three days' meeting to its own. One day was devoted to football, one to boxing, and a third to running and jumpine. Apart from the physical benefit to the force such events as these have an excellent mental effect, for the men talk about them for days before and days afterwards, and, for the time being, forget about the war. The following is the prize-list for the 'Divisional sports:—

GYMKHANA. 100 Yards.—Driver WJ J. Doull 1, Private Darby 2, Sapper Reid 3. Time, 11 2-osec. Long Jump.—Lieut. P. V. Quainc 1, Captain F. C. Hubbard 2, Corporal T. Guy 3. Distance, 19ft lin. •220 Yards.—Driver W. J. Doull 1, Driver M'Cormick 2, Driver Dormer 3. 440 Yards. —Private Darby 1, Gunner Chapman 2, Private Sutton 3. High Jump.—Corporal J. Hill 1, Lieut. D. K. 'Duthie, Hanson, Rope, 2. Height sft 2in. Three Miles Cross Country.—Private E. W. Cobcldick 1, Private Ballantyne 2, Corporal Emeralie 3. N.C.O.'s and Men's Jumping.—Bradley 1, Scott 2, Browne 3. Officers' Jumping.—Captain Power 1, Lieut. Rae 2, Captain Grant 3. !. 880 Yards.-'Private E. W. Cobeldick 1, Gunner Chapman 2, Private Painief 3. I Obstacle Race—Corporal Hill 1, Sergt. Anderson 2, Driver Edmonds 3. Mule Steeplechase.—Driver Goodwin 1, SWIMMING. 50 Yards Dash.—Captain M'Nab 1, Private Condell 2. 100 Yards—Lieut. Hogan 1, Private Cobcldick 2, Private Gallacher 3. 200 Yards.—.Private Campbell 1, Private Bailey 2, Sapper Htitcheon 3. 440 Yards.—Sapper Havty 1, Private Clissaud 2, Private Paul 3. 100 Yards Breaststroke.—Driver Doull 1, Private Atkinson 2, Private Snow 3. Diving Competition.—Bombardier H. C. Nolan 1, Sergeant Qoldingham 2, Bombardier Sim 3. Raft Race. —No event. , Cork Bobbing.—Private Chceseman 1, Rifleman • M'Ewan, Sapper Evans, Rifle'maji Rivell 2. BOXING Light-weights.—Winner, Private M. W. .Leekie; runner-up, Private W. H. Barns. Welter-weights.—Winner, Private Lawless; runner-up, Sergt. R. Leekie. Middle-weights.—Winner, Corporal P. 'Manning; runner-up, Sapper F. P. Holt. Light heavy-weights.—Winner. Corporal W, A. Senior. runner-up, Driver Bain. He&vy-weights.—Winiuir, Corporal W, G. Itytthawsou; jfunuor-up,, Private S. Jamiesow * '