AT THE FRONT.

Evening Star, Issue 16778, 5 July 1918, Page 6

AT THE FRONT.

MR MASSEY AMD SIR JOSEPH WARD. SPEECHES TO OUR TROOPS. WELLINGTON, July 5. (Special from the Official War Correspondent.) July 1. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward arrived at the headquarters of tho New Zealand Division on the western front on Saturday evening. They lost no time in ■getting in touch with the men of tho division, for after thoir long journey by train and car they attended a perl arm nice given in tho late afternoon fay the Divisional Theatrical Company. The scene was a memorable one. The stage was set in a natural amphitheatre in some beautiful woods, and in tho interval of the performance, when tho music of tho members had ceased and there whs to bo hoard only tho songs of the birds 'and the booming of tho guns, tho great crowds of soldiers listened to the message that those ambassadors had brought to their soldiers from the farthermost pari of the if opr '. For the moment this wood in Franco became a little bit of New Zealand, nrd the spirit of democracy invaded a portion of Republican France, that, not so far back in history, had been part of a ducal deniense. This friendly suirit of democracy was evidenced in the good-natured interjections with which the speech'", v.w punctuated., as in the calls of “ Kill ” and “Joe” that arose from the soldiers. in the audience, and the ' English visitors were struck with the heartiness and informality of the proceedings and the interest taken in tho visit. The excellence of the theatrical performance also surprised the visit-el's. In a speech .luring the intc’val Mr Massey said he would be very pleased to listen to any grievance!; the men Iml. He added that he was intensely- proud of the splendid record which tho division had put up, and he could tell them that the people of Now Zealand would not go back upon thoir soldiers, but would stand by t-lio.ni and sec that they were properly reinforced. After the war was over be felt .that New Zealand would he proud, not only of what had been done by her soldiers, but also of what had been .lone for her soldiers. Sir Joseph Ward expressed great pleasure at seeing so many New Zealanders under such strange circumstances. Even in New Zealand ho had not seen so large a gathering of New Zealanders for a long Lime. The scene made one realise to what a great extant New Zealand had helped, and ho felt s-ure they would c.-ntinuc, in this determined spirit until a great victory had been won. There had been some criticism about Ministers taking a trip round the world, hut he assured them that the trip was undertaken purely in the interests of the Empire. If they had not undertaken the journey Now Zealand would have been entirely unrepresented at the most important conference in a crisis in tho Empire’s history. At tho conclusion nf the address bath speakers were heartily applauded. In tho evening the Ministers dined with the Genera! in Command of tho Division, Tho Ministerial party were curly astir on Sunday to attend the church parade of one of the infantry battalions. Tho scene was an impressive one. The troops paraded in the open, with a great expanse of sunlight, roiling downs, and woods around. Addressing tho troops, Mr Massey said Sir Joseph Ward and himself had come mi

a very important mission. They wera representing Xcw Zealand in ronferrm >.w m which previously the Dominions had bad no say. It brought home to one wh'at X<nv Zealand was really doing, when he was able to sea such large numbers of men on parade at the front. fie was especially pleased to see many members of an Auckland regiment, many of whom had come from his own district, ami with whom he was personally acquainted, and lie could assure them that Now Zealand wanted her men back. But she was determined to keep the division properly maintained and reinforced until a satisfactory victory had. been attained. New Zealand’s effort in the war was second proportionately onlv to that of England herself. lie was glad to bo able to tell them that- the feeling in England was even more optimistic than it was a few weeks ago, and that, if we held our own during the next few mouths, we could look forward to a satisfactory ending to the war. IJo wished to tel! them that Xew Zealand would stand by her returned soldiers. Meantime, her message was “ Oarry on.’’ Am to the ft.lure, he said emphatically that Germany should never again be allowed to get (dm fooGrig she had before in the British Empire. Tho Germans must go out, mid keep out. Sir Joseph VV’ard said thvv were fully determined that they would never yield to tho enemy, and, so far as our troops were concerned, they might rest io-iunl that nothing would lie left undone by America and our other Allies to enable them to win out. On their return to Xew Zealand the Minister would be able to convey to tho people soma idea of the hoc appearance of her men in the iiold, and what splendid work they bad done in m upping a gap in the line during tho recent IKniun advance. All in Xew Zealand would like to see them back in their own country, but not until an end had been made, of Prussian militarism.

Visits were paid to the Machine-gun Battalion, tho Maori Battalion, and the Engineers, and brief fpc;whcs i. r-■ made in each case. The Maoris returned the compliment with their war dance. Monday was a very busy day, the Ministers travelling in motors over miles of dusty roads and through ..mall French villages in order to see as many uni is of the Division ns pos-iLlc, At Ibo end of a long and tiring day they had personal interviews ■ with many officers and man who came to Head qi’.liters fra' this purpose. The day began with an inspection of the Rifle Brigade, whisk was on parade on the edge of a picturesque wood hanked bv fields of wheat and rye. The Prime Minister recalled the historic parallel of troops bivouacking in rye. fields on the eve of Waterloo, and expressed the hope that on this occasion also victory wo. Id rest with our troops and their Allies. He said that the appearance of Pin- troous ■spoke well for the- quality of the army rations and the ability of the men to enjoy (hern. He congra tula led fho bran-do on its record, than which none was belter. We wore at a crisis in. the war, the length of which would depend solely upon whether wo were able to hold 4ho (levmans in their coming offou.dve. He felt euro that, if the enemy failed to break through, they would come to the conclusion that it would bo no use going on. This was not the tdi.no for any weakening on our side. Sir Joseph Ward said that among (hr divisons in tiro British Army there were that were known as super-divisions, and ho wan told by a high anlhoiity that among these war, included the New Zealand Division All spoke well of Die Now Zealand soldiers, and what they had done in the war would undoubtedly stand out prominently in (he history of their country. Tn the coming clash the world would he looking on with betid breath, -and lie was pleased to say that responsible men regarded tho situation with a considerable degree of confidence. Subsequently the Ministers had an opportunity of seeing the troops cany out u. tactical 'exercise in open country. They also witnessed tiro work of the ‘‘contact ” aeroplanes. The afternoon was ! spent in visiting tho field ambulance di- j visomJ train and tho entrenching group. I