BRAVE NEW ZEALANDERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3325, 5 December 1917, Page 65

BRAVE NEW ZEALANDERS

TWO GREAT BATTLES. DESCRIPTION BY OTAGO OFFICER. Captain Malcolm J. Morrison, of Kaitan--gata, who was subsequently killed at tho front, had a very fine power of descriptive writing. Tho following two letters written by him paint in vivid colours the sensations and experiences of thoso who engage in a big battle under modern conditions — they deserve, in fact, to rank as epics: MESSiINES. Franoe June 11. Tho battle over, and I'm through it as safe as a cricket. ( Oh, it was a great show. Your guardian angel has looked after me and has brought me sale through tho capture of a two year and a-half enemy fortress. After weeks of careful preparation, endless planning, endless series of conferences and long instructions, we assembled oii the morning of June 7 and "did the high jump," "hopped tho bags," "went over the top," or whatever- 3 7 0 u like to call it. You cannot imagine the long preparation —the mines that were laid, tho railways, roads, and tracks, tho buried cables, the artillery concentration, the assembly trenches, the weird tanks, the Lallcon and aeroplane reconnaisancc, the patrols, the wire-cutting, tho dumps of food and ammunition.

Wo began a few weeks ago tocjevastate tho Hun defences. An endless stream of shells was going across to Fritz, .and the tentory beyond the green stretch of No Man's Land was constantly ascending in great ges'sers of smoke and dust. Trench mortars were always on the go firing great bombs that dug tremendous holes. Huge guns that fired nearly a ton shell sent their missiles wheezing away up almost vertically, to come down with a rush on the Hun. After hurricane bombardments for days, and all the elaborate preparations, we finally got fixed up with our own infantry gear to hop across the other morning. FILING IN TO THE FRONT TRENCHES. You cannot imagine the number of men that were filing up to the assembly lines on the night, June 6-7. Just try to have a guess at the number of men who went up on that nine miles' front, and see how ticklish a job it was. Were the Him to raise tho alarm and shell our areas heavily the show would possibly be a failure. But discipline in keeping quiet and doing as directed ensured safety. Consequently at 3 o'clock our lines for miles wore safely full of men. All ready, our back areas were bristling with cannon, all pointing on their marks,, their elaborate time-tables set up and their stacks. of shells ready, their gunners stripped for rapid work. The great mines, with tons of aminol lying dormant there, noededi just the tap of a silent watcher's hand to set up an earthquake, a rumbling, and then a hugo crater of scarlet flame. How tense was the moment! Everyone waiting for exactly 10 minutes past three. I was in the lead of the battalion with my company. We marched from awiy back in the evening, leaving behind our kits, etc. We trekked silently through the communication trenches. On the way up Fritz threw gas shells at us, but our helmets are trusty, and we got in all safe. I saw all my men set, and then sat down to wait. A new map came along, and we gathered the officers to look at it. My word, the time fl-sw, and I passed along the silent word, " Three minutes to go. - All was quite- quiet except for tho occashell going across and tho whirr of our night owl aeroplanes. THE ATTACK. Suddenly there was a rumble—tho mines going, then a roar of artillery and machine guns massed behind, and I hopped over the top with my headqaiarter's section and out ■lito No Man's Land on the journey beyond away to our objective beyond tho town of Messines.Up the hill we swarmed past the trenches dealt with by troops in front of us. As wo passed on I saw men I know. They stopped there and mopped up. Prisoners were already coming back, running with their hands up. Our sholle were pouring over all, bursting in a line according to the barrago time-table. We kept quite close to that barrago. Some men, of course, would go too fast, and got into it, and wero hit. ' However, wo got on very well. 1 rallied tho company together near a line, while our barrage was halted, and got things ready for advance When it next lifted the ground wats all pitted with hugn holes made by our artillery. The German trenches were obliterated, bat here and there his machine guns, in concrete positions, were spitting at us. Tho gunners died-. I might say. shot, bombed, or bayoneted. German machine gunners know now that they cannot shoot on until wo catch them. They inflict casualties whil" firing, therefore tbeir doom is sealed, and never again will they cheer the Kaiser or Hoch, Hoch in tho Dammstiasse. When we got up, tho boys swarmed through, i was right up with one of my officers in the lead, recognised the place we wore to go to, and pointed to it with my hat. Off they went like deerhounds, and dug out about 70 prisoners. One of my officers (Lieutenant Thompson, a fine fellow) was shot by a machino gun, and died in tho shell hole. I mourn his loss more than anything. Wo had no opposition in our trench. It was empty, but wo rooked Huns out of dug-outs, kicked their nether ends back to our lines. Great Scott! didn't they go, too. Some oamo out with their overcoats on their arms with a big smile—the off-to-Blighty smile. One moment's pause in doing what the boys indicated, and then tliev wore gone. The noise., smoke, and dust were pandemonium itself. All the time I had my pipe going, the perspiration poured off me in big drops with the arduous route through deep craters. _ We wero simply black with dirt and perspiration. OBJECTIVE GAINED'. Once up to our objective, we got- well out in front and began to dig in, while other troops passed us, even as we had passed others. On went, the line of bursting shell and on went tho troops. Tanks came pooping along, great lumbering monsters, going forward with tho deliberate slowness that i 3 indicative of an irresistible and invincible impending doom. We cheered them as they went past. Aeroplanes in scores buzzed round close down to us, calling out with tho buzzer to get us to light, fhuvs to show thorn where we were. It was a great show a sight and an experience of a whole lifetime. The wounded were there, of course, being carried out by iho heroes —tho

htrctcher-bearers. The dead wero left in tho rush forward.

Wo got dug in,-and then tho Hun saw "that his supposedly impregnable town had boon taken, and ho began to shell us. All that day, then night, then next day, we sat in narrow deep trenches, with hie shells crumping around vis. That was the worst part of the battle, the sitting there, sustaining casualties slowly mounting up. Many, however, were very slight. We went a little way back next day, then next day came out hero to beautiful green trees to rest.

THE MURK OF THE BATTLE SMOKE,

Going across wo all had confidence. I experienced not a tinge of windincss, but moved about unconcernedly in the noiso and smoke guiding my men. They camo or went wherever I pointed tho . way. Heavens, they are fine fellows 1 I cursed violently when things did not go tho way I wanted, but that was but seldom. A man is carried on by some magnetism to face the unknown. My admiration for the boys knows no bounds. Could those coldfooted lead-slingcrs of New Zealandera in New Zealand and also in England havo seen their mates in the murky dawn made black by the battle smoke they would hide their heads in bitter shame. One of my corporals dashed through shell and fire, and actually captured 30 men on hiß own. I lost some good fellows and had a good fewwounded. .For three nights and two days we had but little sleep. All that ono could do was to sit down in the trench and have 50 winks. One day while lying low; I fell asleep, and woke un to find a piece of shell embedded in my pocket book. I had my clothes torn in throe places by bits of shell, but not a piece hit me. The bursts were so close often that tho concussion seemed to push in a man's chest. Twice I was buried in a shower of earth. Bob Rawlings, my remaining lieutenant, and I rose, Phoenix-like, from the soil, and asked each other: "Did ho got you?" We thought nothing of meals, and for 24 hours I ato nothing—just smoked and had a drink. Late in the evening I had some broad and water. We had no ahav'e and no wash, and were as filthy as swoops. "By Jove, you're rough," was the greeting. The colonel got wounded, and Major Starnes took command. He was kept in reserve to do that in case of an emergency. WHO SAYS COLONIALS HAVE NO DISCIPLINE? Well, we trekked out of the line and marched for miles back. One of my tall corporals, with a Hun officer's hat on, was in the first four. Tired and weary and sweaty, we plodded along. The soldiers turned out to see up Never have I felt a prouder chap as I trudged along slowly with the company behind me, back to a good meal, a wash, and a sleep, with the brave fellows who stuck so well by me and carried out 'the lessons I have preached for weeks. They are fine fellows. Brigf<dier Braithwaite was delighted, and _ General Russell beamed all over with smiles. Let me meet a man who says colonials have no discipline and I'll strike him to the ground. All tho talk about Guards, etc.. would never let me allow them a place beforo our fellows. One cannot snoak too highly of the artillery or of' the aviators. When ono sees an aviator fall from a burning machine and come revolving to earth from a great height to certain death he sees the good stuff in those fellows. Pity 'tie such good men fall. To-day I was away up tho line again reconnoitring for more fight. Four of us, running across an open space, were fired on by rifles, and didn't we run ! The insidious sniper m his lair is a dangerous man. Once more the guardian angel has carried mo through. HARDER THAN MESSINES. Franco, Juno 15. Another few days have gone by, and since I wrote my last rapid letter to you I've lived in a perfect hell of artillery and New Zealand ritie fire. Probably in the papers you will see a merely short notice that we have made further progress in a certain spot. Could you but have seen how it was done you would have shut your eyes and held tight your ears and cried aloud. By dint of unexampled push' and bravery of our bravo fellows we did tho job. It was a far harder job than the taking of Messines. We were out for a day or two to rest and then went up to another show in a different sector. An operation was planned in whicn it was considered that the enemy had retired, that it would be a case of just going up and occupying the area. We gatheied in.our lines and had hasty orders to do the job. On the night of the show we wore all ready. Beforo zero hour, however, the enemy put down a heavy barrage in front of our lino, and machine guns were spitting up tho dust. The right company liad a lighter barrage and set off. I had to take out the company then, to support them on their flank. I had my orders and had to go on. At last I bit my tongue and hopped over. HEROES ALL. Just fancy a lino of great screaming crunching shells falling in front and bullets sizzling around and having to go out into what looked certain death. My mind was made up and oil wo set. A call to those bravo fellows and not one faltered. Up they camo to a man, swarming in that line of flame and smoke and big noise. Tho boys are heroes, every one of them! How can I express my admiration of their conduct? When they saw mo take tho lead and walk into it. out they came. The hot breath of the shells blew on our cheeks and the soil splattered around us. but wo got through with about two casualties. It is marvellous that the casualties were so light. Tho part that excites one admiration is tho fact that from the trench wo could see the barrage and realise that we had to get through it. I could see my lads emerging from tho smoke of a shell like dim phantoms in tho fumes of hell. FLANK IN THE AIR. Wo managed to get through and finally loft tho barrage behind us, now crunching harmlessly in vacated ground. -We pushed on to our objective in tho face of spitting machine guns and rushed a trench. On the top of a rise wa. came near our real objective. Wo paused for a moment to got touch and collect, and advanced to find a very strong force occupying ground considered" to be vacated by the enemy. However, tho job had to be gone on with (■von though our strength had boon sadly depleted at Messines. Tho Company Commander on my right was wounded, nobody was on the loft, and a strong force was in front Wo attacked and found tho place too strongly, held. I withdrew tho men and dug in. and sent out patrols to reconnoitre. Flank patrols could find no ono on our loft, and thus my left flank was in tho air. Hero we were out on our own

up against a strong position with a flank dangling badly. CAPTAIN MORRISON SAVES MANY LIVES. I was the senior officer on tho spot, and the others came to mo as to what to do. i made up my mind to go on, but it was with a certain premonition of rcbuif. Wo went, and again tho strength of tile enemy showed itself in machine-gun and ride tiro of great intensity. I then saw that tho inevitable had happened, and withdrew to our dugin position ]OO yai-ds from the enemy. That was the wisest movement I've ever done in my life, as further events showed. We organised our position, and held on. In the gloaming some Huns at one hou3s sat out having a smoke. Wo turned tho Lewis gun on to thorn and dropped five of them. That evened up matters a little. A few minutes before wo had dropped low with the breath of his machine-guns blowing our hats off. This "minor operation" turned out to bo a veritable battle. During the day wo got our heavy artillery to work. It was great to see tho big shells actually falling on the buildings, and then to see tho great explosion throwing up tho bricks. Later on we "hopped the bags" again, stormed tho places, took them, and dug in. The place whero my company had to go was evacuated, but the other companies got in among tho Huns and killed a lot. Tho shells had cleared our area for us. I lost some good men, bub we did the job. It is indeed wonderful how ono gets through. We got four machine-guns, about 20 prisoners, and paved tho area with dead and wounded. The place that was considered empty contained at least a dozen machine-guns and nearly 300 men. We were relieved immediately after tho show. I sent my men to trek away back in small parties, and waited for the relieving officer. Tho battle smoke still hung around, and big shells came crunching in. TIRED SOLDIERS. Tho show was over. I grew weary. Throe nights and two days without sleep, and I was done. With my trusty runner—a boy who ran messages many a time through fire—and Dick, my batman, and Lieutenant R , one of my officers, ' with a bullet through his arm —I trudged my way wearily back throiigh a forest made stinking by gas and tear shells. Tired was no name for it. One was kept going by the excitement and danger: but once done, the tired feeling overpowered one. Never have I spent such a time, and I hope never again to pass through such a barrage. No wonder the Hun throws up his hands, because our artillery must bo terrible for him. Millions of shells go pouring over into his areas. Congratulatory messages have just come in from corps and army commanders. I would like them much better did I know that our valiant dead wero alive to hear them. The three days havo been very strenuous, with some critical moments for a man to make decisions, with others in which a square jaw had to be pushed out to carry ono on. Lying by my bunk here are the four guns taken by the company on my right. We are to get one each, because everybody played a part, in getting them. Machine guns are the great life-takers, and at the same time the great life savers. They are so arranged in the field that a continuous band of bullets sweeps in double or treble cones across the field. The greatest of praise is due to the gunners who stand up to their guns in a shower of metal, streaming the- bullets at the rate of 400 a minute. Can you imagine 400 bullets going out of a gun in a minute? Well, that is very closo to the rate. The wonderful mechanism of these instruments of death is a triumph of devilish ingenuity. THOSE WHO DIED. I had a muster parade this morning, and told the men Avhat I thought of them. I was quite moved when I, made reference to the six I lost, killed. For eight months now I have been associated with some of these men, and to lose one, even the latest, is to me a rotten thing. However, we have come out not so badly. By now you will havo read of our part in the first battle of Messines. The work of New Zealand and Australian troops on tho perilous right flank was well worth special mention. To see the " Ausies" going across overland as if strolling on their own native heath was a groat sight. The prisoners and dead and wounded Huns counted up to thousands. They are strangelooking birds —quite different in appearance from our boys. The bespectacled Hun and the fat, round-faced Hun are' typical. Seme are fair chaps of agreeable mien, others are dour looking hogs. AFTER THOUGHTS I have marvelled for days at my luck during the fights. Some -haps seem surprised to see mo because they knew our battalion was in more fighting than any other battalion. My action in digging in where I was has been endorsed all round as the way out from what might have been a disaster. We captured some very interesting documents. One was that the enemy was going to attack us at midday. Another offered 50 marks for every officer captured. Fancy being priced at 50 marks! This is a record of a more trying time than I've ever had before. Wo are pleased that our work has been recognised by brigade, corps, and army._ The stunt over, we who are left are thankful for our luck, and we mourn the loss of those we have loft on tho hill —brave.valiant fellows, whoso number has gone up. Their day s work is done, but thank heaven many more Huns are settled for ever.