MARCHING TO ATTACK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1035, 12 December 1917, Page 5

MARCHING TO ATTACK.

FROM FRANCE TO BELGIUM

NT.W ZEALANDERS AT WAR

"Men arc collecting here in thousands to-day—Australians. New Zoalnndcrs raid' others—so there must be it 'stunt' coining oil'." So wrote Corporal W. J. Balsillie, son ol Mr and Mrs J. Balsillie, of Kairanga, referring to the preliminary operations winch took place at the end of September and earlv in October around Bolleeue Spar, where later the main operations ended so heroically—and tragically for the New Zealanders.' It was after this fight that Corporal Balsillie was reported missing, and later "missing, believed killed." Corporal Balsillie proceeds to state that on September 24 they were ordered to pack their kits and be ready to move ' at a moment's notice from their resting place, having just come out of the trenches for a spell. They had to carry 170 rounds of ammunition and service pack. The start was made at 7.30 o'clock next day, and the Now' Zealanders marched 16 miles in hot weather. Next morning a further march of nine miles was executed. The following day the march was continued and another ten miles were negotiated. "We are having quite a walking tour of France," proceeds the letter. We passed through S and are now in Belgium, having crossed the border today (September 28). The roads are iai'rlv hard to march on, being paved with" stone. A lot of hops arc grown here, and we helped the Belgian people to pick them. Next day motor-lorries took us 15 miles to a place near \prcs. The following morning we set out in battle order and passed through \pres, which is a battered mass ot ruins. "We inarched till 10 o'clock, when we struck our reserve trench, one recently taken from the Huns. AN e put in a'cold night, having no blankets or overcoats, and 'Fritz' put over a good deal of gas, thirteen ot our company suffering. To-day (September 30) we ef our trench at 8.30 o'clock tor our support position, two ot our platoon bene wounded on the way up. >\e had to build a dressing station, and saw many gruesome sights ,ntin I.we -men lying unbuned ee. 'Fritz' had a very strong line hen. practically till concrete trenches and Sug-outs." The walls, ol the houses (pill-boxes) are four feet thick ot e.v!. i j. nm- cerfoant coiniinforced concrete. Um ser^'1 " ~,. . ed 36 dead Germans m one alone. lau> Inch of the ground is ploughed up and is •, regular wilderness. A ot oi t>um» 11 i,H-have been put mitt, actum, as the ground is too wet lor them (Wporal Balsillie concludes b> desori ig the preparations made nrjoi to the big attack in the. way oi i<ions etc.rand For four n.g «s 1..s ™- nnnv had little or no sleep ovung to ffi" un™ntnrt»K., <-,;"'', , srx£ ts ■■» **■ <-■ positions. . _.