THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 38

THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

HEW ZEALAND'S IIESPOHSE TWENTY-NINTH REINFORCEMENTS. ARRIVED AT A PORT. WELLINGTON, September 8. The Minister of Defence has been advised of the safe arrival at a port of call of the first portion of the 29th Reinforcements. MILITARY SERVICE. PROVISION FOR CALLING MEN UP. WELLINGTON, September 7. . It is understood that the remaining names on the roll of the First Division reservists, numbering about 7000, will _be called up en bloc. Present legislation gives -no power to do this, but an amendment to the Expeditionary Force Act will be introduced giving the necessary authority. It is probable, also, that members of the Second Division will be similarly called up without a ballot in classes where there are only sufficient men for one draft. lnus, if a draft balloted from one class leaves only sufficient for one more draft, it will .be unnecessary to apply the ballot to the remainder. DEMANDS BROUGHT BEFORE THE MINISTER. WELLINGTON, September 7. Another statement about the Second Division was made in the House to-day by the Minister of Defence. The matter was raised by Mr Veitch, who ;read the following telegram from Wanganui:—"Second Division League here understand Class A of Second Division balloted for next month. Urgently insists on legislation being passed on the line of the league's proposals before the ballot, also immediate arrangements for medical examinations." Mr Veitch said that the message showed that there was some anxiety on this matter, and he would be glad if the Minister would make a statement Mr J. Allen said he had seen two members of the league the preceding afternoon. They had seen him before to make a request that, members of the Second Division should be examined before the ballet. This proposal was carefully examined, but it had been found that this could not bo .done in accordance with the law. He had informed the members of the league that he was anxious to give as much time as possible between the ballot and the time of calling into camp, and that the best he could do for the Second Division men was pS increase this period from two months to .three months. In order to do this it would 'be necessary to have a ballot of the Second Division in October, and the men drawn "would go into camp in January. The "league representatives were not altogether ■satisfied with this, because they still clung ib the.idea that they could get the medical "examination before the ballot, but he was ,sorry to say this could not be done. Whether 'legislation would be put through rested with the Government and with Parliament. The •legislation asked for was an amendment of ii'he Pensions Act. The Government had not yet decided what should be done, and sthe Bill was not therefore before the House, •but he hoped the Bill would be through Parliament before the end of September. iThe Government would deal with the matter ,at an early date, and he hoped that soon .afterwards the House would be asked to •deal with it.

IFROBABLE STRENGTH OF SECTIONS. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) AVELLINGTON, September 10 It is now possible to give in further detail concerning the Second Division, •the first class of which will be balloted for •at the end of next month and go into camp "three months later. There are 19,000 men in class A of the "Second Division, and from 20,000 to 25,000 in each of classes B, C, D, and E, so that sfchere arc very few men of military age with of over four children, the total strength of the Second Division being 109,000. Though a certain number of doubtful classes have neen posted to class A, it is confidently anticipated that this class will provide at Jeast two months' reinforcements, and with ■a little luck three, for to it have to be added -die youths coming of military age. Something like 400 youths are posted to the First Division every month. ;. It :is understood that for a beginning, at any rate, the Second Division will be called iip at the ratio of four to one. If class A, with the youths reaching military age, provides for three months' reinforcements, the men in class B will not go to the ballot till the end of January, as they on the same ratio should supply four drafts, the first going into camp at the end of April, the class C men —those with two children — should not be balloted until tho end of May, leaving for camp at the end of August. Of Gourse, this is based on the assumption that the ratio -of four to one will be adhered to, but it is extremely likely, in view of the many exemptions " that will have to be granted to farmers and others and the possibility of a small proportion of fit men, that the "ratio may have to be considerably increased, if not more than doubled, in which rnse the above somewhat sanguine forecast will have to be considerably discounted. The possibility is that tho Second Division will aot last 12 months.

ALLEGED BREACH OF FAITH. INVERCARGILL, September 7. After an emergency meeting, the Second division Leaguo Executive wired strong protests to Cabinet Ministers, stating that ;he taking of a ballot for Class A before mssing a scale of amended separation allowtnoes and pensions was a distinct breach >f faith. NAPIER, September 10. The executive of the Napier Second Diviion Leaguo carried the following resoluion to-night:—"That the executive ent«*s la protest against the proposal of tho &oernment to call up Second Division Rest - ists bVforo declaring its attitude in the natter of pension and separation allownces."

TIMARU, September 10. _ At ju vcuict'mg of the Timaru Second Divi

fiion League to-night resolutions were passed supporting the decisions of _ the league's conference, arid urging the Cabinet, with a view to shaping the necessary legislation, to hold a round-table conference with the league's representatives. The Temuka League, at an cmergoi.cy meeting, protested against the calling up of Class A, or holding a ballot, before passing legislation amending the allowances and pensions. DEATH OF NATIVE SOLDIER. WELLINGTON, September 4. Base Records Office has been notified that Second Lieutenant Watuku, of the Native Corns, died at Te Wakato Sanatorium, Cambridge, on Friday, from tubercle of the lung. DISCHARGED FROM CxYMP. WELLINGTON, September 7. A return presented to the House of Representatives by Sir James Allen to-day gave the following number of men who, having passed the Medical Board, have entered camp in New Zealand as members of various reinforcements and have afterwards been discharged from camp as unfit for service:— Twcntv-second Reinforcements, 2; 23rd, 8; 24th, 31; 25th. 49; 26th. 195; 27th, 153; 28th, 136; 29th. 104; 30th, 79; 31st, 27; 32nd, 15; 33rd. 11; 34th, 2; 35th, 3;—total, 815. ' ■ Sir James Allen explained that the high figures for the Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, and Twenty-eighth Reinforcements were due to the fact that about that time an alteration was made in the standard of examination at the suggestion of the Imperial authorities. Since then we had reverted to our own methods, and the number discharge d as unfit had been very largely reduced. GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS. WELLINGTON, September 4. The military authorities have been advised that Captain Bernard Charles Tennent, R A.M.C., a New Zealander, has been awarded the Mil'tary Cross for gallantry in action. The address of his next-of-kin is unknown here. It the latest list of military 'honours conferred on New Zealand soldiers appears the name of Lance-sergeant J. T. Clearwater, of Matoura, who has been awarded the Medaille Militaire, he being one of the 22 New Zealand soldiers who have received honours at the hands of our French ally (states the Mataura Ensign). This young soldier, who is the son of Mr and Mrs R. Clearwater, has had a somewhat lengthy period in the front line, and has already gained distinction by winning the English Military Medal. Three brothers are also serving with the Expeditionary Forces. Private advice has been received by Mr G. A. Rutherford, North-East Valley, that his brother, Wm. T. Rutherford, has received a commission. He went into camp as a trooper in the sth Otago Mounted (Main Body). Trooper Rutherford went to Gallipoli about two weeks after the landing, and was there until the evacuation, being promoted to corporal. On going to France he received his sergeant's stripes, and was in all the battles with the New Zealandcrs up to Meesines. As far as is known, he missed tht Messines battle, as he was in Englend sitting for his eommis sion. So far ho has come through scathless. Lieutenant Rutherford was employed by the Railway Department in Otago Central before enlisting. INVALIDED SOLDIERS. ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, September 9. A contingent of 96 sick and wounded soldiers arrived here this evening. The following Otago and Southland men are amongst those who arrived.: Captain Hugh Lawrence Widdowson, surgeon, Dunedin. Thomas Stanley Lemont, metal worker, Pine Hill. Harry O'Connor, engine-driver, Dunedin. James Scott, farmer, Gimmerburn. Sergeant Benjamin Sparrow, Dunedin. Sergeant William John Thompson, farm labourer, Thornbury. Harold Chalmers Watson, clerk, Port Chalmers. John Welsh, photographer, Ravcnsbourne. LONDON AIR RAID FUND. The secretary of the Otago Education Board acknowledges receipt of the following contributions from schools to the fund for the relief of tha distress caused through the recent air raids on London:—Previously acknowledged, £l5B 5s 2gd; Macandrew Road, £6 5s 7d; Mosgiel, £2 13s; Alexandra South, £1 17s lOd; Awamoko, £1 15s; Macraes. £1 lis; Glenkenich, £1 ss; Totara, £1 3s 3d; Merton, £1; Tuapeka West, £1; Tokarahi, 16s; Caversham (additional), 15s 3d; Clydevale. 15s; Leith Valley, 12s 3d; Mount Cargill, lis 4d; Purekircki, 10s 6d; Momoiia, 10s; Tapui, 10s- Brighton, 6s lid; Allanton, 6s 6d; Glenledi. 6s 3d; Table Hill, 5s 10±d; Teaneraki, 3s 7d; Moray Place (additional), 2s 9£d. VIOLET DAY IN KOUAITLThe Women's Patriotic and Red Cross Society held a " Violet Day" on September 1. With the ready help of some little girls, throe girls with a donkey and cart, and the assistance of ladies, £7 4s 6d has been sent to Dunedin. Mrs Bates gave the free use of her shop, and great quantities of vMets and spring flowers and vegetables were contributed. In the afternoon light showers fell, and at night but few ueople were out. OVERSEAS CLUB, OAMARU. In July and August the articles of equipment forwarded to the Early Settlers' Hall comprised 6doz of each of the following articles: —Pairs of socks, pairs of mittens, scarfs, balaclavas, handkerchiefs, and service bags. The dominion parcels goods forwarded in July comprised £25 worth of goods. By means of a street collection, supplemented by donations from country districts, £l9O was raised in August for the Christmas parcels. The goods forwarded included socks, milk, cheese, and sweets. RED CROSS SOCIETY. The is an extract from a letter received from Mrs Chinery, commandant of the Home Mead Convalescent Hospital, Lymington. Hants, which receives patients from the New Zealand Military Hospital,

Brockcnhurst: "We were ordered to enlarge our hospital, and 1 have been very busy getting the new part ready. We were very pleased to have received some cases of pyjamas, etc., from tho Otago Red Cross and the Oamaru Red Cross. The pyjamas were beautifully made. Will you please thank the members of the Red Cross who helped with the making of them." Donations from the following have been received for the Lady Liverpool Red Cross Cake and Sweet Fund for the wounded soldiers in the military hospitals and convalescent homes m England:—Anderson Bay, North-East Valley, Waiwera South, Waipiata, Daubach, Balchitha, Patearoa, Caversham Nursing Division, Lawrence, Nascoy, "Warepa, Romahapa, Milton. Owaka, Milburn, Port Chaimers, Otago Women's Club, Cromwell, Port Moiyneux, Ranfurly, Momona, Wharetoa, Stirling. Maungatua, Gore, Taieri, Kaitangata, Middlemarch, Roslyn and Kaikorai, Brighton, Kelso, Waitahuna, St. Clan- and Caversham, Miss Farquhar, Mrs Colquhoun, "M. J.," Miss C. Williams, Mrs Lmdo Ferguson, Miss W. Hislop, "A Friend," Miss Nicholson, Mrs Fergus, Mrs Henton, Mr Harraway, Mrs F. Fitchett, Mrs Leshe Wilson, Mrs Mae Donald, Mrs W. C. MacGregor, Mr Lusk, Miss Ulrich, Mrs Bennet, Mrs C. C. Graham, Dr Riley, Mrs Clayton. The efforts of the ladies in charge of the Red Cross stall were most successful, over £7O being added to the fund for sick and wounded soldiers. Tho ladies desire to thank all those who sent contributions and tSie public for their generous support. The work in the rooms continues to go steadily forward, hundreds of garments being_ made every month. The supply of material for diet cloths having run very low, donations of old tablp linen will be gratefully received. PRISONERS OF WAR. WELLINGTON, September 6. Ir.formation placed before Parliament today shows that there are 270 Germans interned on Somes Island, tho cost per head per day being 3s bd. Seventy Germans are employed on their usual work. Tho cost of maintenance of prisoners of war from April 1, 1916, to March 31, 1917, is as follows :—Somes Island, £17,981; Motuihi, £9130; Devonport, £1297. The daily average number of prisoners is: Somes Island, 269 second class; Motuihi, 24 first class, and 27j second class; Devonport, 16 second class. DISTRICT COURT-MARTIAL. Following a District Court-martial held at Trentham Camp, the following soldiers have been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 11 months for disobeying the lawful command of a stiperior officer: — Private St. E C Steele, Details. Private H. C Kilby, Details. Private H. Anderson, Details. Private R. Hopkins, Details. In the Trentham camp orders it is announced that Private P. C. Dodge, details, found guilty by District Court-martial of disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer, has been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 11 mouths. A member of F. Company, 27th Reinforcements, found guilty of deserting his Majesty's service and losing, by neglect, his equipment, clothing, and regimental necessaries, has been sentenced to 64 days' detention, and to stoppages of pay for deficiencies in kit. At Trentham Camp, 37149 Private R. M'Lachlan, Details (E Company, 15th Reinforcements), found guilty by District Courtmartial of—(1) deserting his Majesty's service; (2) losing, by neglect, his equipment, clothing, and regimental necessaries, has been sentenced to imprisonment, with hard labour, for six months; and to stoppages to pay. for deficiencies in kit, amounting to £2 16s 7d. RELIEF OF BELGIANS. MONEY STILL REQUIRED. WELLINGTON, September 7. Tho following statement in regard to the funds for the relief of distressed Belgians is issued on the authority of tho Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs! : "' The High Commissioner for New Zealand, London, has advised that the United States Government has accepted financial responsibility for the liabilities incurred prior to taking over the relief of Belgium and that the funds in hand should be held for usp at a later period. The Acting Vice-Consul for Belgium, Wellington, has received official intimation that the relief undertaken by the United States Government refers to food and clothing for Belgians in the area occupied by the enemy and that funds are required for other benevolent purposes, such as the King Albert Belgians' Orphan Fund, Belgian Babies' Fund, Belgian Refugees' Food Fund, and Belgians in England Relief Fund, etc., which was administered by most responsible committees. Donations to the above named will be gratefully received for transmission to the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will arrange tho distribution in accordance With the wishes of the donors." ANOMALIES OF THE BALLOT J. T. Barrett (Beaumont) volunteered five times, but was rejected on account of age. Eventually he got away, and is now in camp. Joseph Pedofsky (North Taieri) volunteered in 1915. but was rejected. William H. D. Cochrane, painter, of Balfcur. whoso name appeared unstarred in tho tenth ballot has forwarded us documentary proof that his certificate of military unfitness upon voluntary enlistment was submitted to the Government Statistician. Ernest Cocks, whose name was drawn in the last ballot, died from wounds in France on May 26. He volunteered from Lovell's Flat in May. 1916. Francis David Thomson (Pembroke) volunteered in October, 1916, but was rejected. Thomas Ritchie (slaughterman, Concord) went into camp with the 30th Reinforcements, but was rejected at. Trentham. Daniel Welsh Morgan (Papatowai) volunteered in 1916, and was rejected. JOTTINGS. Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., has received information by cable that his son, Lieutenant A. G. Jennings, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was seriously wounded on August 28, and is now in the Rouen hospital. Lieutenant Jennings is the third son of the member for Taumarunui. He went away with the Mam Expeditionary Force, and after serving in Gtillipoli and France, obtained a commission. He won the Military Cross

about two months ago. Mr Jennings has lost two sons in the war. Private Campbell M'Le.od, who has been reported missing since June 7, and is now believed to be killed, was born at Stony Creek, and was the fourth son of Mr James M'Lcod, Outram, and a brother of Mrs W. J. Weir (Ominii) and Mrs W. 11. A. Bowles (Tahakopa). He left with the Sixth Reinforcements from Seacliff, where he was working with the blacksmith at the Mertal .Hospital. He was only 22 years of age. This.. is the second son Mr M'Leod has lost, as his eldest son James, who left with tho Main Body, died in March, 1916. Private Wm. Wilson, of the 32nd Reinforcements (Mounted Machine Gun Section), being home on final leave, was entertained at a social evening at Laiyler on the 4th. Private Wilson was presented by Mr G. A. Francis, on behalf of the people of the district, with a wristlet watch and purse of sovereigns. Messrs Sheppard, Alexander, Howjohn, and Gallagher spoke of Private Wilson's many sterling qualities, and wished him God-speed and a safe return. Mrs J. Black of Ngapara, has received intimation that her son John, who left with the Main Body, has been promoted to bo second lieutenant of the Machine Gun Corps. While in England he met a schoolmate. Sergeant Hector Nicol, R.F.C., who enlisted in Australia. Thi* is another instance of how small the world is. Who would have ventured to predict that these two Ngapara schoolboys would have met in England after doing a good d«nl of fighting for the King and Empire, and celebrate the event by a flight in an aeroplane. NEWS EROM THE FRONT. LETTER FROM GENERAL GODLEY. WELLINGTON, September 5. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Sir James Allen read tho following extracts from a letter written to him by General Godley, dated July 12: — " The New Zealand Division has been out of tho line resting for some time now, and they are all very fit and well. I had to find a brigade to go and work for the French army near hero, who arrived very tired from the south and had to get a lot of work done in a hurry, so I selected the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and sent them off. Yesterday I visited General Antoine, who commands the French army, and you will be glad to hear that he and his staff were most enthusiastic about the work they have dono and the way they have behaved. Altogether they have earned golden opinions. " I saw General Fulton and some of his commanding officers and battalions, and they are all enjoying the change. It is a great experience for them to be so thoroughly identified with and sandwiched in with the French. " Colonel Plugge has been most useful and indefatigable in getting up boxing competitions, sports, and recreations of all kinds for tho division while they have been out of the line, and it does them a world of good. " D'Arcy Chaytor has just paid us a visit on his way from England to Egypt, and ho and Stuclholme and Richardson have fixed up various matters for the proper eo-ordina-tion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force here, in England, and in Egypt. "Tho King has just paid us a visit here, and saw representative detachments of the division, which lined his route and cheered him as he passed. We also had a visit from the Duke of Connaught, for whom we paraded a special detachment of his regiment, the Rifle Brigade, and representative detachments of others. We have gradually got our new lines pretty well consolidated and established, and are looking forward to a fresh move in the direction of Berlin. "Since I wrote I have been up to Messines, and it was a most extraordinary sight. It is absolutely flat and more completely pitted with shell holes and the ground more absolutely broken up than that at the Somme, which I described in a previous letter. In fact, Pozieres and other places down there are nothing to it, as in tho case of Messines it got a shelling both ways —first of all from us, and ever since from the Boche. I have had tho place put out of bounds, and have put a ring fence round it, as the Bocho shells it so severely and persistently." STAFF APPOINTMENTS. WELLINGTON, September 5. In tho House of Representatives to-day Sir James Allen read a letter from General Godley, in answer to criticism regarding staff appointments General Godley said he had done all he possibly could to get staff appointments for all Staff Corps officers, excejjt in cases where it was obviously necessary first to have a little regimental experience. Sir James Allen also read a statement from General Godley in which ho said: "You. need have no anxiety about the .new brigade. Immediately there is any difficulty about reinforcements it will, if necessary, bo broken up, but I am glad to say that our casualties at tho battle of Messines were so comparatively light that for the present, at any rate, there will not be the slightest difficulty in keeping up the 4th Brigade." TAKING MESSINES RIDGE. SOME INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ARTILLERY. A Dunedin soldier, writing to his parents, describes some incidents in the battle of Messines. Ho says: "We, or the majority of us, did not experience tho tense excitement, etc., whicn is supposed to prevail just before an attack is made, but, rather, were fairly tired with our heavy load, and endeavoured to snooze away the couple of hours before starting time. Suddenly the maehino guns opened out a barrage, and half a minute afterwards several mines were exploded. They were a grand and awe-inspiring spectacle. Between them and ourselves wo could discern by the glare hundreds of men moving forward. Tho ground shook like a heavy earthquake does, and the flame and dust and earth shot up a great height. Our lot got a little ahead of our proper time, but I think the mistake contributed to our gain, as we thereby missed a great part of Fritz's barrage. We went too fast at times, anrl found ourselves in our own barrage, so we then got into a slvdllmle. Our section got right up to its objective without any casualties other than those suffered previous to 'hopping tho bags.' "At last we reached tho remains of some buildings, and as we came up to the nearest some 30 Huns emerged, shouting,

[ "ICamerad," ".Mercy,'' and offering souvenirs. I could have had quite a lot, but somehow didn't take any, tor which I was sorry afterwards. We had no fighting to do, us our ban-ago had done all the work. The ground was absolutely covered with holes, big and small, and in many of them a small cottage could be built. There wero no who entanglements left, ynd no trenches. When wo were going over we did not know when we had passed the old German front lino, as it had been blown out of existence. There were several tanks, which had been stranded on account of the way the ground was broken up. Fritz has been shelling the valley and ridge from enfilading positions ever since, and putting over gas shells, which, however, do net seem to be very effective. I have had several mouthfuls of it, but_ beyond making me feel a bit queer for a little while nothing else has happened. Fritz has also made many counter-attacks:, but every one so far has failed. Our tucker was very good and plentiful, and last night we had 'duff' in the trenches Pretty good faro during a 'stunt.' "I waa hit four times with pieces of shell, but none went in. I am lacky." THE MESSINES ADVANCE. A SOUTHLANDER'S EXPERIENCES. A Southland member of the Otago Infantry Battalion, in writing to his parents on June 11, refers to the iViessines auvance, in which he took part. The attack was launched at daybreak, the signal being given by the exploding of mines, which made the earth quiver like a plate of jelly. Those in the trenches hopped over the parapet like ono man. At the conclusion of tho bombardment the attacking partywas given the opportunity of getting close to tlio Huns. Ihe enemy line was about 600 yards distant. Tho writer was a rifle grenadier —that is, he carried a rifle, bayonet, and 200 cartridges; also bombs, which weighed l£lb each, and can bo bred from the rifle. Each man carries 15 of these, a shovel, a pair of wire-cutters (almost as large aft hedge -clippers), and a small bundle of sandbags strapped on his back, all these things making up a fair load. When they got close up to tho enemy trenoh the attackers' bayonets were brought into use, and it was then that the enemy came to light with bombs, but the German bombs were not so effective as those of the attacking party. When the objective was reached the trench was found to be most sorrylooking as the result of the British artillery bombardment. Fritz looked for mercy, but not a great deal of it was given. Investigation of the dugouts showed six feet of concrete, with earth on top of it. There were many Germans in these,_ but the attackers got them out by throwing in smoko bombs and waiting for Fritz to come out. He had to leave or bo smothered. It was like fumigating rabbits, and was, in the writer's opinion, a most gruesome business, but nothing was too bad for a people who had been guilty of such atrocities as they had committed, and were still committing. The writer considered that the Germans were no match for the British at close quarters, and were afraid of the cold steel. Many of the Hun soldiers were very young; a number cf them were not moro than 15 or 16- Pity was extended to them, and many of them were crying. These boys were taken prisoner and their services utilised for carrying British wounded. They were pleased" enough to do it. The services of the German Rod Cross were also requisitioned to assist in,dressing the British wounded, and the Germans were found to be particularly expert at the work. One of the greatest troubles was to get water for drinking purposes. The smell of bursting shells and the dust made the men very thirsty. When the obiectiva was reached the attackers proceeded to dig in, and at the end of three days they were thoroughly tired out They were then relieved, and marched back to a rest camp. The writer's feet, particularly his toes, were badly cut with so much digging, and he was placed under the doctor's care for a few days. » NEW ZEALANDERS AT IHE FRONT. SPLENDID WORK AT MESSINES. TRIBUTES BY COMMANDING OFFICERS. WELLINGTON, August 24. The following extract from a letter from Major-general Russell was read by the Minister of Defence in the House this afternoon : ••Messines R:dgo on that part which New Zealand had to attack is a fairly steep ridge, on which tho Germans were very comfortably entrenched with an excellent observation of everything that was going on in our lines below him. He was, in tact, on the lim of a saucer, while wo were at the bottom, and consequently all our preparations in tho way of improving our communications and constructing assembly trenches had to be done at night. Naturally the work at night was never so expeditious or so easy as by day, and for four or five weeks prior to the -attack practically every man :n the division had spent the nights working, getting what sleep was possible during the day. This in itself was a severe tax on the men's endurance, and I was very-glad to find at the end that there were a few days to spare in which tc rest the men and give them a chance to pull themselves together for the effort. " Tho whole scheme of attack had been made with very careful thought, and involved a vast amount of Staff wow for those who were responsible for the plans. With the enormous concentration of artillery life on the slopes in front of us had' become practically impossible. "The battle, in a few words, was won through the weight of metal thrown on to the enemy position and the mettle of the men who cdvancad to attack them Everything went like clockwork. The weather was in our favour, as a thunderstorm cleared tho air tmd cooled it during the night of assembly, while the clouds which still hung rbout tho sky prevented any observation on ihe part cf the enemy. Consequently the assembly of troops was carried out with hardly any loss, and you can realise what anxious moments, or rather hours, one passed when, haviag assembled several thousand men within a few hundred yards of tho position, on? waited for the actual moment to advance. Had the Germans been able to discover our movements and shelled our assemblv trenches, no doubt we should have gone through with the attack, but under very difficult conditions. As it was the men got over the parapet with hardly any losses, and so excellent was the c<unter battery work Ibat his barrage, waen

it fell, was too thin to break up the attack. Actual positions were carried at very slight expense. " Our losses began to mount up after we reached our different objectives. Wo were vithdrawn very shortly from the sector on which we attacked, and were put in rather lower down the line, where our friends from Australia mado their start. Wo have since considerably extended our gains by small operations without any great difficulty, and are now in process of consolidating and improving the defence of what we gained. Tile men were extraordinarily confident of success, and this, no doubt, helped tliem a lot. The buttle was half won before it was begun, and I cannot speak too highly of the spirit displayed by every one Every day, when I seo what the men have put up with in the way of danger and hardships, it astonishes me with what cheerfulress and fortitude they put up with the very trying conditions they have met. We have again received congratulations on all hands for the work done by the division, and I honestly think they are well deserved. I am glad to say that th-9 health of the men and their spirits are as good as when I last .wrote to you. The reinforcements are as good as* ever and there is not a division in France but would welcome them into its ranks. I send you these fewlines to assure you that so far as I can judge all is well'with the division." The following are extracts from a letter received by Sfir Jas. Allen from the late Brigadier-general Johnston, dated June 14: '•The division did well, and maintained its high reputation. As far as the artillery was concerned, 1 need only quote from a memo, sent us the day after the battle: 'The Army Commander directs you to congratulate all ranks of the artillery of the 2nd Anzacs on the success gained to-day. He wisheS" to thank them for the excellent work they have done during the past week, and adds that the success gained to-day with comparatively little loss is entirely due to the hard work and good shooting of the artillery.' In addition, Sir Doutrlas Haig came to see us, patted me on the back, and said: 'Thank all your fellows for the splendid work thev have done.' Everything went off without a, hitch. The barrage was good, the wire was all cut away, presenting no difficulties to the infantry, and the trenches and strong points were well smashed in. I went over the battlefield next morning, and was much pleased to see how we had done our work, for although for weeks ahead one is busy locating and destroying some wire points and any possible obstacle, still you cannot seo things as you do afterwards. On our front you couldn't detect the German front and support lines. They were so smashed in, and only here and there could you find strands of wire, and I haven't been able to hear of a single place where the infantry were held up. You will read much about mines and tanks, but we had only one mine, and our tanks were not much good. They couldn't easily cross the country on account of shell holes, and three of them were knocked out by gunfire. lam afraid they hardly justify their cost. The infantry and artillery won the fight, and nothing else had much to do with it. "These battles were a great strain on one, as once the infantry gain their final objective and begin to consolidate, the Hun shells them severely, with the result that all our communications get cut, and our forward observation officers who go up with the infantry cannot communicate with us. You can imagine one controlling some 230 guns from a central place. As soon as the infantry captured Messines and got beyond it we couldn't see the Hun counter-attacks —but if the wires are cut, as they nearly always are by his shelling, there is no quick means of communication by which our forward observation officers can tell us exactly where to shoot. We have to shoot by maps. Barrages are sometimes most complicated, as a new line is very seldom straight, and yet you must cover it all the way. One mistake, and you may wipe out a lot of your own men. "vVnen I walked over the battlefield shells were still falling. Of course, v you know, the artillery fire never ceases day or night for days, and a battle only means a barrage thrown in as an extra. The country was all ploughed up by shells, and hardly a square yard was intact. Dead men 'were lying all over the place, and Huns were being extracted from dug-outs. Our tanks were lying about where they were struck, or had been shot out, and exhausted soldiers were resting.' In one place I saw one of our men and a German lying side by side, having apparently killed one another. The Germans were being taken to the rear to be put in cages. They mostly looked well-fed and of good, physique, notwithstanding what "the war correspondents say. "'General Russell, our G.0.C., is reckless to a degree "Up by Messines the day after the battle, which means only a cessation of the Maxim fire an artillery officer came running to me,' and said: ; The G.O.C. of the Ist Infantry Brigade has been killed.' This was true. He was walking with General Russell, the latter's A.D.C., and Pridham, C.R.E., when a shell burst near them, and killed Brown, and wounded Beetham, A.D.C., at the same time. On Sunday last when General Russell was looking over a parapet at the end of a wire, distant about 100 yards or less, a sniper had a shot at him, putting a bullet through his steel helmet, and bruising his head—a pretty close call. However, I think he will be better in the future. I have had five officers killed —one curiously enough by lirrhtning. He was a very excellent fellow, who oame away with the Main Body— Prummer by name, and a veterinary officer. The same flash paralysed seven men. Brigadier-general Brown is a great loss. He was as bravo as a lion. He never said much, but did a great deal." A FAITHFUL FRIEND. In the course of a letter to his relatives a Dnnedin soldier who has seen a lengthy period of active service tells what happened to his mount in the engagement at Arras: "My horse carried me wonderfully, jumping all obstacles, but tho fire was too strong, and she was caught by machine gun fire and killed under nie, being shot in two places, the head and the neck. I am very sad over the loss of my mare (Ma.ry, and it will be extremely difficult to replace her with one that I will have such confidence in. She was the mare that was presented to Captain Paddon by the ladies of Dunedin." PAYINCr THE PRICE.

An Otago soldier, referring to the Battle of Messines, says: —"By this time the New Zealand Division must be well hit to leg in the v/ey of casualties, as the Messines

Ridgo was a very unhoalthy spot, and ono could not expect to wipe out tho Ypros salient without paying the price. I believe the casualties were much lighter than had been expected, but at best these over-the-top stunts are unholy orgies of murder a.nd sudden death. There is this consolation what we got was a joke beside the slaughter that was iserved out to the Saxons and" Bavarians, and all the rest of the Kamcrad people. They strewed the ground and blocked up shell holes after we had passed, mangled bits of deadncss." WITH THE STRETCHER BEARERS. A Dunedin lad, who went to the front as a stretcher-bearer, writes interestingly, under date Juno 23, of some of his experiences : "I have done my first eight days' bearing up the line. It was a bit sultry at times, but I never got smacked. Some were a trifle too close for my fancy, but it is all over for a day or two, and we are having a spell just now. I would sooner be up in the front line when things are quiet than where we are now- Fritz lands his shells over hero with the greatest of ease, and there are no dug-outs or trenches to duck into. One of our party of four bearers was smacked out, so you will see we wero pretty close to it. The Otago crowd of tho 4th Brigade has just gone in, and they expect one or two casualties. They reckon Otago ono of the unlucky regiments; let us hopo their- luck will change. As I am writing this there is great activity in tho air—aeroplanes flying about by the dozenend I had the satisfaction oE seeing one of Fritz's brought to earth. He came down very slowly—not half fast enough for my liking. Of course, our side docs not get off scot free. If you could only get a cart load of the stuff that is lying about here the boys would be able to have any amount of gear for down the bay—clothes, gum boots, etc., all next to brand new. They have just smacked up another Fritz plane as I sit hero and write this. "We are in a dug-out—four of us—and it just holds us and no more. It is about 7ft square and 4ft 6in high at the highest point. It is surrounded by guns of all sorts and sizes, and when they open out there is a row, I can tell you. There are one or two 'beauts' quite close to the dug-out, and when they let go the dug-out rattles some—just like an earthquake. The place is a network of trenches, and we have to be sort of careful where we wander for fear of getting lost. They are all named, just like tho streets of a city. The men working on the roads at the back have a rough time. The Germans know the distances to a nicety—they have been there—and sling shells over at all hours. When they do get to the men on the roads with a shell ft is not one they usually knock out, but half a dozen." QUIXOTES OF TO-DAY. FIERCE MIDNIGHT CHARGE BY ANZACS. LONDON, August 3. In describing the capture by the Australians of a knoll, topped by a windmill, eyewitnesses state that the windmill was an outstanding feature on the slight hillock in miles of flat country. _ _ , The Germans, realising its importance, had fortified its environs extensively, using every possible obstacle, including wired hedges, in order to keep possession of* it, but reckoned without the Australians. Fighting on the right of broken ground overlooking Wytschaete, the Australians charged magnificently on Tuesday morning, winning their way foot by foot up the knoll to the windmill, despite the fiercest opposition. One Australian battalion bayoneted 100 of the defenders. The survivors had had enough, and threw up their hands. A very fierce battle raged for hours around this small hillock in the midst of the plains, but the Australians ultimately reached the summit and captured the windmill. The Germans, realising the great value of tho windmill for observation purposes, massed greatly superior fresh troops and charged and retook it in the night regardless of loss. The Australians did not yield easily, and beat off numerous counterattacks before sheer weight of men gained the windmill, but the Germans did not enjoy possession long. The Australians made a magnificent bayonet charge at midnight, literally hacking their way back till the knol! and farm lands in the vicinity wero strewn with Ger man corpses. There the Australians remain in the midst of a rain of German shel's, though further counter-attacks are expected The New Zealanders gallantly captured La Basseville after hours of grim fighting, filling the cellars with dead. The bombing and subsequent artillery fire completely destroyed the village. MERRY AND BRIGHT. A New Zealand soldier, who writes from Hornchurch, takes his - troubles very lightly:—" When I was wounded at Messines—l4 wounds in all—l left the line with nothing on except a pair of pants, and where the rest of my clothes, etc., got to goodness only knows. My wounds were very siight, except that I have lost the use of my right ring linger, and my thumb is not too good yet. "-There is great talk here about sending the Main Body boys home to New Zealand. The Australians are sending their boys home in August. Thero are under 5000. " Out of our company we had 96 men and officerjs wounded a.nd killed. All that wero killed were mostly Main Body boys. None of my gun team saw the thing through after the iirst day, so you can imagine what it was like. I burst an artery in my left arm and would have bled to death only for one of our boys binding the upper part of the arm with a pieco of rope. My face and left shoulder were also torn about a bit, but nothing startling. I had two boys killed, one on each side of me. The ground wois swaying like an earthquake. It was some advance. I threw in one stripe in France so that 1 could be in charge of a gun, and I'm not sorry. Firing the guns is better than being in bases." WAR PRISONERS IN TURKEY. GRIM STORIES OF ATROCITIES. Evidence is steadily accumulating of the bad treatment of tho British prisoners of war in Turkey. It is learnt from the most trustworthy sources that a largo number of British and

Indian prisoners in Mesopotamia have succumbed to ill-treatment or lack of proper medical attention. A man who was for some time near a prisoners-of-war camp in tho Taurus states that more than half of the unfortunate men captured at Kut are now dead. It is noteworthy that the Swiss Red Cross Commission, whoso report was sufficiently damning with regard to tho camps which they were allowed to inspect, wove not allowed to approach this camp or other camps of the same type. Thirty-seven British prisoners wore sent to a hospital under European management Tho European doctor in charge was of the opinion that with proper care he could save 35 of them, but ho and his assistants were driven away from their own hospital, and during tho first 15 days 22 of the men died from sheer neglect. Fifty prisoners captured at Katia in April, 1916, were sent to a hospital at Aleppo. One asked for a cigarette. One was given him by a bystander, but the non-commis-sioned officer" in charge of-the party snatched it away and stamped on it. All of theso prisoners were suffering from dysentery due to starvation.

A German subaltern who spent tho winter at Marmurea saw the bodies of 400 Indian prisoners who had died of starvation.

Another witness saw 150 British prisoners at Katma, in Northern Syria, in the most deplorable condition. Their only ration consisted, he stated, of soup.—Renter. BLOWN TO PIECES. NINE FISHERMEN KILLED. In Juno a cable message recorded an incident which happened on the Irish coast. Tho full story is given in the following remarkable passage in the Times: "An accident by which nine lives were lost is reported from County Galway. While four fishermen were fishing off the coast on Friday, at a place naaned Loughanebeg, 16 miles from the town of Gohvay, they saw a strange object floating in the water. They pulled their curragh towarols it, and saw that it was barrel-shaped, and had handles on each side. The men towed the object ashore and began to unscrew it. They were joined by other men ; until there were in all 1C men on the beach. Ono of them, Joseph Flaherty, believing that the object was a mine, warned his companions of tho danger of tampering with it, and hid behind a rock on tho shore A young man succeeded in unscrewing a portion of the mine, and when he tried to withdraw what appeared to be a cord or fuse, an explosion occurred, which was heard hi tho vilago of Spiddal, four miles away. Flaherty was struck on the head by a stone or piece of tho mine. When he stood up there was not a trace of his companions. All that was to be seen was a great holo in the shore where the explosion had taken place. Alittlo boy, who 6aw the men on the beach immediately bofore the mine exploded, ran towards them. One of his arms was afterwards found near his father's house. There is no trace of his body. "Dr W. A. Sandys, of Galway, who was motoring in the neighbourhood, said that his car was almost lifted off the road by the explosion. Ho attended tho injured man Flaherty, who has become deaf as a result of tho shock, and then brought the coastguard to the scene. The nine missing men belonged to tho Loughanebeg district, and three "of them were married and had families. "Lord Killanin, on hearing of the occurrence, drove to the scene and assisted in the search for the bodies."