EXPERIENCE IN FRANCE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23053, 22 June 1940, Page 18

EXPERIENCE IN FRANCE

LECTURE TO ?s.Z. SESC BRITISH TROOPI UP PARACHI CFEOM OL'2 OffS COF.al LOND( How he gave a led Maori in Song and Sto: group of British troo] while, in the forest rou: man parachutists were i “cleaned up,” was re Hubert Carta, the wei Zealand tenor, on his r land. Mr Carta had spent : France lecturing on the I times he gave his l£ crowded, smoke-laden verted stables, or in cha vate houses. His most is of giving a haka fo: men lounging on the g a terraced chateau in shine. He did not leave Fr. days after the Nazis offensive against Hollanc For his last talk, Mr C British camp in a forest “As we were drh chauffeur noticed two £ over the tree-tops, didn’t know to whom but anyway they were to be there.” Mr Carta we reached the camp it the two machines were of discussion. In the evi manding officer excused attending the lecture, r the war was ‘now on,’ said that he was sorry t 20 men could attend in 400. That didn’t worry prepared to talk to four necessary. I was war: were expecting ‘Jerry’ an hour’s time. A pigec fly over the camp, the f< and everyone was on hj “I went on with the denly rifle shots began round us. Our men we chutists. There was n fire and no bombs wer went on for some time was extended much lonj - Firing Outside £ “Later I met the offii and everything had qi again. We had just re of the meal when two of fire sounded right out ing. All the officers buckled on their belts a ing out. There seemed for me to do, so I put c coat, though I really do When the shooting died was suggested that I she panied on my return escort, but it seemed to wanted all the men tl refused. “T shall never forget of that forest. In the the sun streaming down enchanting. Now, in t when every shadow mil chutist, it was much i The driver had a rifle we drove as fast as \ the rough, newly-made him what he would do any Germans. He said: put out the lights, get have a shot at them.’ gested that they might us off by that time, 1 that’s the risk we taki you that I just kept r on the road, and didn’t into the forest. Tension Relit “These German par been causing our boys bother. At another car corned by the command: open arms. He said th just been a ‘spot of be the boys wanted cheerir me that six dispatch ri ambushed by parachuti; been shot dead, and sti their clothing and mark tion. The bodies had 1 den. What the Germa: with the uniforms, I do: all of them were foun against a wall just befo “On the way out of 1 that the hotel in which at Arras only a few d£ been bombed and 40 lh lost. One of my frien killed. I saw train aft* fugees from the tightinj were pathetic sights, her