THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1919, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION.

'AREA OCCUPIED ACROSS THE . HEINE. ' OFFICERS IN LUXUKPkUS QUARTERS. THE HUNS' POISON GAS FACTORY MARKED WITH A HUGE RED CROSS

(Special from the Official War Correspondent.) January 19.

The German territory across the Rhine occupied by the New Zealanders comprises roughly 120 square miles. It includes the town of Mulheim, near Cologne, and several manfacturing and country villages. Some of the best houses have ibeen requisitioned by the different Headquarters Staffs. One Brigadier lives in the home of an aristocratic baron who for the time being has to be content with his second-beat rooms. It is the house in which the Crown Prince has stayed for the shooting on the baron's estate. On its walls are hanging many trophies of the chase. An Auckland doctor, with his field ambulance staff, 19 quartered at the seat of another baron, who is' most friendly, and makes his new and unexpected tenants welcome to his shootings.

A WORLD-FAMOUS DYE FACTORY Divisional Headquarters and the officers are in the world-famous dye factory i at Leverkusen, which is laid out on modern lines, with every necessity for the comfort, health, and entertainment of tlie employees. It takes days to make anything like a comprehensive inspection of this huge factory, whose profits for the year preceding the war are said to have amounted to five million pounds. Here during the latter half of the war were being manufactured Synthetic rubber and one-third of the high explosives for the whole German Army, and poison gases that were used amongst us with brutal and deadly effect. It is perhaps as well that the New Zealanders and not the Canadians with their first experience of poison gas at Ypres are in occupation here.

MISUSE OF THE RED CROSS On the roof of one of the factory buildings was painted a huge red cross. This building was for a while used as a military hospital, but the cross was allowed to remain after the hospital had departed. In any case the fact that the enemy planted the Jiospital in the centre of his high explosive and poison factory is sufficient commentary on his methods. As the proprietors state that they objected to the conversion of their factory to such manufactures, possibly they should be absolved from blame. Two days ago I watched a New Zealand soldier climb to the top of the dome surmounting the headquarters in this factory, and presumably the? Union Jack was unfurled and proudly flying in the breeze. There it will continue to fly until peace is signed or the army of occupation is no longer needed.

FACILITIES FOR SIGHT-SEEING. This temporary occupation of German territory has been extremely interesting and an educative experience for the New Zealanders, wiio are not slow to avail themselves of all facilities for sight-seeing. Many have already visited Bon, Coblenz,. and even Brussels. Occasionally excursion steamers, carrying a thousand "Diggers," steam up the Rhine for a day's sight-seeing. Tramways which have ramifications over a wide area carry soldiers free and are much used by the New Zealanders. Guides take parties round the museums and the sights of Cologne.

POPULAR PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT. Shooting galleries and cafes, in which only light wine and beer are sold to the trooos, are popular, and every night there are packed aud ences at the Grand Opera, where thunders of applause srect. the excellent singing and acting of German actors and actresses. English, French, Canadian, American, and New Zealand soldiers sit beside local residents, and during entre'acts gaze curiuosly at the German promenades. Our officers and nfen arc enthusiastic patrons, and the haunting melodies of the Barcarolle in "Hoffmann's Tales," the dramatic scenes in "Rigoletto," and the music of "Faust" and other masterpieces will remain in the memory equally with the grim realities of the Somme and other battles and the tragic (Tesolation of the Ypres salient. Apart from these distractions, amusements have been plentiful. The Y.M.C.A., which is established in twenty-two localities, runs nightly ten kinemas and four pierrot shows.

OFFICERS' SHOOTING PARTIES. Officers make up shooting parties, for hares, partridges, and even deer are plentiful, and the game shot provides a welcome addition to many a mess, especially as we are not allowed to purchase any food locally. But it is not all play. Guards and pickets have to be provided over a wide area, and now that the education scheme is in operation practically the whole division is at; dcbool again. THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.

To-day the German elections are taking place, and the New Zealanders are bearing their share in the maintenance of order. A proclamation has been posted stating that the military is unbiased as regards the political parties, but will maintain strict order and discipline, so that every man and woman entitled to vote may go to and from the ballot unmolested. Up to the time of writing no untoward incident has occurred in our area, and no trouble is anticipated.

A Y.M.C.A. MEMORIAL, Officers, n.c.o.'s, and men of the division, who will never forget the magnificent work done by the Y.M.C.A. in the field, are subscribing to build a hut in a New Zealand city on the lines of the Shalcespeare Hut in London, at a cost of about -£2OOO, as a memorial to those who have fallen during the war. The Y.M.C.A. proposes by public appeal to raise a large sum to provide huts in every town in New Zealand. The present funds are unavailable, as they are earmarked for war work, and any surplus will be disposed of by the Minister of Internal Affairs. It is proposed to adopt a progressive policy in the Dominion, embracing something of the spirit that has characterised the association's war work.

THREATENED RAILWAY STRIKES. Certain dispositions of the New Zcaltad Force .wer« made a -view to

preventing trouble arising out of the threatened railway strikes in the occupied zone. German employees are objecting to the ten-hours' day. At Oplanden (lie men who threatened to .strike to-day, went back, but they are working only eight hours.