IN RHINELAND.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 79, 18 March 1919, Page 5

IN RHINELAND.

THE NEW ZEALANDERS’ MARCH. A soldier, in the army of occupation, writing from Germany, under date. December 271 h, gives a Hue desniption of tlio March of the Britishers through Belgium, where they win tuatiil with extreme kindness anti hospitality. Bunting was* prmligiilh displayed, triumphal arches e.’erteil and mcl y w hero was rejoicing and welcome. He was told of the aw tul mil t-ages committed by the Hun, much of it too sickening even for a liarilimed man to hoar. At Verviers, a largo Belgian tow n a few miles from the German frontier, everyone desired to entertain t hem, and those with Whom they well' billeted gave ol their best nnil treated them as members ol the family. W hen they left, on December 21, the battalion was presented with a beautiful large Belgian Hag, made ot silk Every man carried a small (big on his rifle anil his breast was covered with small emblems and rosettes. The streets wore crowded and flowers, streamers and all manner of pretty things, were thrown from the windows, whilst the people grabbed the soldiers’ hands ami almost pulled them out of the lines. The following Sunday they crossed the German frontier at 11.10 a.m.. arriving by train at Cologne, at 1.30 p.m. At Cologne, they marched throng'll the streets, whore the shop windows (all poorly stocked) were well lit mid. ol course. there were large crow vis ol Huns about. The band played them through the streets. Hie flags fluttered more than ever and the mttii sang and whistled, while tin* dirty Hint' dared only to look <m, with their hard insolent, stare. Th-’ hoys. however, didn’t, oven spare them a glance, Irut marched proudly, looking straight Io the front. They soon reached the Rhine and, each Company crossed, lusty cheers were raised, for the entertainment, of the Boche. The weather all through the March was unsettled, though mild, (hi the night of December 26th there was the first, frost, and they hoped it jvould freeze a bit more.