EMISSARY TO AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15825, 23 January 1915, Page 8

EMISSARY TO AMERICA.

GERMAN COUNT INTERNED.

London, January 21.

A message from Rome states that a British cruiser removed Count von Keller, a- German officer of high rank, from the liner Ducadasta, and conveyed him to Gibraltar. Von Keller had been on a secret mission to the United States.

GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS.

AUCKLAND CLUB FORMED.

INVITATION TO LADIES-

A Soldier's Gift Club has been formed in Auckland to enable women to send small weekly or monthly gifts to the Auckland members of the New Zealand expeditionary force now in Egypt. These men may go to the front at any time, where gifts and comforts from home will be very acceptable.

A meeting for the purpose of enlarging the club and explaining its object will be held in the Victoria League Rooms on Wednesday next, at 3 p.m. *

It is proposed that each member shall undertake to send each month, each week if she wish, a small gift to one or two men in the force now in Egyjt. The gifts are to include such tHings as handkerchiefs, soap, toothbrushes, tobacco, "'and other small necessities, which are luxuries among men on active service.

Women interested in the welfare of our men at the front are cordially invited.

The committee of the club has been very active in securing the co-operation of several leading firms, who have kindly agreed to supply at cost price. The committee consists of Mrs. Whyte, -Mrs. R. A. Carr, Mrs. S. Resketh, Mrs. John Reid, Miss Fenton, Miss M. Hesketh, and Miss Firth, hon. secretary.

SAMOAN CIVIL OFFICES.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

[by telegraph — ASSOCIATION'.]

DrxEDiN, Friday.

The Minister for Defence. Hon. J. Allen, stated to-day that immediately after the occupation of Samoa a number of civil offices were filled by soldiers, but the time has now come for the holders of these positions 1o decide whether tbey will continue in office or not. The Government proposes to give them the opportunity of going to the front, but if they prefer to remain in £he Civil Service they will be relieved from active duty, become civil servants and receive the pay of civil servants.

ONE AGAINST HUNDREDS.

GUARDSMAN'S HEROIC END.

Coolly smoking a cigarette, a heroic Guardsman defied hundreds of Germans after declining to surrender. A vivid tale of this brave Briton's last moments was told by Corporal T. Scott, of the Royal Field Artillery, who has returned from Ypres. "In intensity," he said, "it beat anything that had gone before. At times it was simply wholesale murder. It was astonishing the way our chaps held on in face of odds that might have made the bravest, quail. The strength of the German attack at every point oil our thin line was such that it was like trying to catch, a few tiny crabs between tons of rocks. Our men knew what depended on them, and they stood fast in spite of everything. At one point it was very hot, and part of our men got cut off. The last glimpse I caught of them as v.e brought the guns out of action they were lying behind breastworks of felled trees and firing quietly and steadily into the never-ending stream of foes. v Some ot them felt they were done for, and one. shouted, 'Good-bye, old chap. Tell them at home we were British.' as I passed him. When the end came it- was every man for himself. The Germans swooped down on a man of the Guard?, all that remained of his section. There were hundreds of them, but that chap would not give in, and scorned to run away. Thev couldn't help admiring his pluck, and they shouted to him to surrender. ' Surrender be damned,' he cried. 'The Guards never surrender! Come and take me.' Those were the words of defiance he hurled at them from behind his felled tree as lie replaced his cigarette between his lips and started to fire his last rounds. Soon thev were all pone, and coolly fixing his bayonet he stood up to meet his death. The Germans load orders to shoot at his le>'s and he was hit, but. on his knees he received the last charge, and was riddled with bullets and perforated with bayonet stabs."