HISTORIC EVENT RECALLED.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1920, Page 5

HISTORIC EVENT RECALLED.

_ Wellington, J.ast Sight. Die Prince of Wales had a busy (lav After attending the children's demonstration at Parliament Buildings he saw the opening play of the football match the New Zealand Army team against Wellington.

He then went to TVtone in the steamer ,Tunic Suldou and landed on the spot, where the early pioneers first stepped ashore. He received addresses and presentations from Pakeha and -Maori, and examined a model of a Mao'i pa existing at Petone when colonisation tejran-

The Trcntham military hospital was the next place visited, tlie Prince being accorded a great reception by the "blueys," in whom he. took miich interest and expressed sorrow that so mar.y had met misfortune on the field.

THE PRINCE AT THE FRONT A BATTLEFIELD INCIDENT. (By an Officer of the N.Z.E.I''. in Auckland Herald). During the groat victorious drive of the Allies near the close of the war the Prince of Wales visited many parts of the front. It was, however, more in the capacity of a staff-officer than as heir apparent to the throne that lie made his tour. On one occasion while he was paying a visit to the New Zealand Division, 1 had the honor to be presented to him. At that time my battalion was resting after a successful advance. The line had been swept forward by an irresistible onset of relieving battalions, so that we were bill'ted in reserves on the site of our object of a week before. His Royal Highness* evinced the keenest interest in all the operations that had taken place. Now, in the course of our attack, we had witnessed a unique spectacle—a duel of tanks. Never, to my knowledge, had a like contest occurred throughout the whole progress of the war. The Prince expresseld a desire to inspect the scene of this remarkable combat, and to hear the story from an aet-ual witness. As it happened, with my company, I had been right on the spot at the time, so 3 was instructed by the C.O. to relate the adventure,

THE PRINCE ARRIVES ON THE SCENE. It was about three o'clock on a sunny afternoon in September that the C.0., the adjutant, and 1, awaited the Prince's arrivel. Close by, to our left, lay Seranvillers, a desolate shell-stricken village. A sunken road ran across our front, and a hundred yards further on were the shattered skeletons of two enemy tanks which a week before had suddenly advanced on defenceless infantry, but had been confronted when a disisater seemed imminent by two British tanks, those staunch dreadnoughts of the land, so often the bulwarks of the army. Ju a few minutes a small' cavalcade appeared over the summit of a K eirle rise to our rear. Here was no royal pomp and splendour. A start' major was slowly ndmg forward accompanied by our .brigadier, and a few other officers. •Seated upon his charger with an eastelegant grace, a slight yet dignified we he drew rein close to the derelict tanks; and viewed the scene with evident interest. It was the Prince. Before him lay a gently sloping valley, ivhose farther crest , was crowned with the village of Mambaix. To the left, front were large commanding spurs. Beyond was the town of Cambrai, discernible only from the higher ground. To the right the country was undulating and the road stretched away, clearly defined by its double row of slender, poplars. The Prince's gaze embraced the whole landscape, and was then gradually focussed on the smaller details of configuration in close proximity, Sandhurst and Flanders had given him the eye of a military tactician.

A SOLDIER RAfTITF.R THAN A PRINCE. He cast a look of inquiry in the direction of the tanks. I was introduced. To my salute lie replied formally as a field officer. In his manner there was no haughtiness, no condescension, but dignity and grnciousness. Instinctively one felt-attracted towards him, He required

no Royal title of address; the simple "s:r" of military etiquette suited Jiis taste far better. lie was a soldier on active service, freed from the trammelled splendour of diadem and purple, now a ''khaki man," intend on the fulfilment of his duty. How keenly lie followed the brief description of the battle of the tanks! His eye kindled with enthusiasm as he heard how the intrepid crews of our tanks bad gone straight at the x'uomy, iiow they had opened with their Hotehkiss guns and completely annihilated their opponents' armoured sides, buckling and wrecking th e machinery within. ''Wlnvt an exciting time it must save been!" he exclaimed. "What happened to the crews??" That tank caught lire, you say V" lie was trying to get a mental picture of the whole scene. He would have loved to have been there in the midst of the excitement. A HUMOROUS TOUCH, Hie story heard, he was riding on when one of his stall' pointed out an old civilian hat lying on the ground, and remained that it was a curious object to see on a battlefield. "That is nothing,'' said the Prince. "Why, I saw a 'digger' o\ ei t.iere in Esne strolling casually down the street wearing an old 'hardbitter ! A[y word, he looked comical, too!" And he smiled reminiscently, still inwardly tickled by the sight, of the old melo: " jauntily poised on the diggers curly head.; Then some point of military interest engaged his attention again, arid once more his countenance became serious, though still tranquil. So lie passed on bound for the front lines, personally to see'the splendid^ conquests of his victorious troops—a gentleman, free in speech and demeanour from evei y mark of atlcctation, destined to win all hearts by the very innate chivalry of his nature, and to reign not by authority of frowning brow and piercing eye, but the calm majesty of serene dignity and human sympathy.