DOMINION'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1918, Page 5

DOMINION'S PART.

OUR TROOPS. OUT OF Tin? FIRING LINK AT PRESENT. Vi'ollinjrton, March SO. J he Minister lor Defence ]taa received a faille stating that flic Neiy Zealand division is out of the tirin.L' lint; .it present. anil is in training until the latter part of |.he present month. (The New Zealamlers weie repoitsd by cable to be participating in the fighting at Buequoy.) THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION.

A HARD WINTER. IN dREAT BATTLE Lnitod. Service. Received March 31, 0.5 p.m.. London, March JlO. Mr Murdoch, writing on the 2Hrd, says the New Zealanderg have had a considerably harder wiqter than tlie Australians, but have stuck.. toc-it well. They held the difficult sotithern sector of the Passchendaele battlefield, in morasses and mudfields, .scarcely habitable even by sohlierp. All supplies of food, wire and munitions had to be laboriously handcarried for miles in relays, while the wounded sometimes took ten hours in getting out. The German artilleryin" was always heavy, in order to em'bai° lass tlie work of the pioneers and labor companies, but gradually a network of loads, tracks and railways was spread over these shattered districts.

The percentages of successes were naturally higher than those of the Australians, who were not getting a backlash battle like the New Zealanders. I

saw many units resting. They were the same sturdy, solid, elear-eomplexioned men, mostly engrossed in inter-divisional rugby matches. . The division is now in great fettle, and is really anxious to meet the Bochea above ground It is known everywhere as one of the hardest- working and hard-est-fighting divisions in France, and when the men get hold of the trenches for a prolonged period, they go raiding, sniping and otherwise angering the Baches The headquarters staff sends fond greetings homeward on behalf of the men. -Hie New /ealanders deserve their countrymen's calm confidence'and unquestioning backing.

NEW ZEALAND'S MESSAGE. HEABT AND SOUL WITH BRITAIN. 13y Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, March :iO. Mr. Massev haa despatched the following message, through Lord Liverpool, for transmission to the Secretary of State for til Colonies: "At the present time, when the armies of the Umpire arc engaged in the most deadly struggle in "which Lritain has ever been called upon to take part, the Government and people ol Now Zealand desire to express their most intense admiration for tile heroism of our soldier*, and the utmost confidence in the officers a.nd men oi" the British forces, as well as JJie forces of our allies. Though the furthest of the Dominions from the scene of operation.!. New Zealand, in this hour of the nation's trial, is heart and soul with Britain and the other dependencies of the Crown. Nothing will be left undone by the Dominion to support our fighting men and assist in bringing about that l decisive victory and permanent peaoe which we ail earnestly desire."