NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17101, 5 March 1919, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS.

DIVISION DEMOBILISING. OLD ASSOCIATIONS BROKEN. SPARTACIST PROPAGANDA. N.Z. Correspondent. Fob. 27. There is a certain sadness about the breaking up of a division that even the gayest can scarcely escape. One by one old friends have been leaving us, and some of these who had come safely through yews of battle to-day arc in England, and we shall see them no more. Now our regiments are holding their break-up dinners. These are convivial to a degree, but all the same they conjure up sad momories as well as sweet. To-day there is only one South Island battalion; to-mor-row there will be only one Rifle Brigade battalion, and next day but one North Island battalion. Our general and all our infantry brigadiers but one have gone. The break up of units is most felt by the drafts, as they head for home. The parting with horses, too, is at times quite affecting. All the Third Artillery Brigade who were in the vicinity went to have a last look at old " Rusty," the only one of their horses who had gone through the campaign from start to finish. One driver in a divisional train had a, very moist eye as he saw a fine pair of draughts he had driven for years put aboard the departing train. To-morrow the division will be horseless. Feb. 26.

The Spartacists are endeavouring to stir Tin trouble in -the occupied zone. Yesterday there were surreptitiously distributed a large number of leaflets in the New Zealand area, urging our men to join with the Germans in appointing soldiers' councils. English and French bankers, capitalists and lords are, they say, making them the watchdogs of their ill-gotten gains. Tho circular urges them to do away with tho capitalist class as the Russian Bolsheviks have done, and adds that there have been bloody encounters between the Red and White Guards all over Germany. They state that the British and French Governments are the secret friends of Prussian militarism. The leaflet claims our soldiers as brothers. " Remember your traditions as Englishmen and freemen. Don't do the work of tyrants. Strike a daring blow for freedom. Elect your own councils of soldiers and deputies, and join your Russian and German fellowworkers in the task of emancipating your class," concludes this precious circular, which has only amused the New Zealanders, who are keen to obtain copies of it as souvenirs of their " Watch on the Rhine," This morning on an equestrian statue in the Hansenstrasse, the old legend "Got* Strafe England",was painted.in bold lettering. It was promptly obliterated by British 'soldiers.

The German authorities are takng steps to quell Bolshevik risings n Dusseldorff, and are sending iroops to take necessary action. . A graves registration unit, consisting of Captain Gibbs, two photographers, and 28 of other _ ranks, commenced the work of registering and photographing the graves of \ T cw Zealanders who have died in Germany since the division's arrival. It will proceed to all the battlefields in France and Belgium on which the division has fought. The graves will be renovated and photographed, and crosses erected whore necessary. Ultimately the unit will proceed to Gallipoli on a similar mission.