INTO THE LINE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1309, 24 April 1918, Page 5

INTO THE LINE.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION.

SOME WARM FIGHTING.

From the N.Z. Official War Correspondent. AXZAC HEADQUARTERS, April 21. While some New Zealanders have been engaged in assisting to stem the German onslaught on Amiens, others of their comrades, including an entrenching battalion, cyclists, and some artillery, have been hotly engaged in the northern battle. All these, though some of them were not greatly experienced in active warfare—for they included reinforcements and even cooks—have worthily upheld the traditions of the New Zealand Force. For some time now there has been a camp in France through which our reinforcements filter. Its commandant fought on Gallipoli, and though he limps about with a rather badly-shattered leg, he is one of our keenest soldiers; therefore when the call came to bring up reinforcements he was in his element, his only regret being that he will not be allowed to take command in the field. The enemy was trying to open out the gap at Meteren, north of Bailleul, and the New Zealanders, who had to be ready in six hours, were brought up in buses. At first they were employed in digging at posts and strong points, which they did under machine-gun fire, but not much shelling. Later, when the enemy, taking all risks, attempted to push forward quickly, our men, combined with English troops, helped to stem the rush near Meteren, just as the situation was becoming dangerous. Two days later, just as they were on the point of making an attack, they found their flank dangerously threatened, and had to fall back on a line previously selected. One small body were cut off by the enemy and probably taken prisoners. All this time there was still fighting. Eager Volunteers.

On April 14 the situation had become obscure and difficult, and another call reached the camp that more men were needed. Among the men left were some artillery reinforcements. The situation was explained to these men, and they cheerfully and unanimously volunteered to fight as infantrymen. "Within three-quarters of an hour they were equipped as such, paraded, and were given brief instructions in musketry, bayonet fighting, and outpost work. Some few artillerymen who could not be spared from the horse lines petitioned to join their comrades, and owing to the action of servants and unfit men volunteering to work double time and look after the horses, these artillerymen had their wish gratified. Within 24 hours lhev were on their way to the Meteren front. When they arrived there they found that the situation had so improved that their services were not required except for traffic control and such work. Their disappointment was keen. During a hurried visit to the northern battle-front I saw the English commander under whom these New Zealanders fought, and found him enthusiastic about all they had done. "For several days," he said, "they fought magnificently, and they also dug fine trenches. They killed an enormous number of Boches." Cyclists and some mounted troops also fought in this battle, and had plenty of shooting, as the enemy came on through the open farmlands. Heroic Gunners. Meanwhile a little farther afield the New Zealand artillery was distinguishing itself under extraordinary circumstances in the same battle. Having received word of an impending attack they put down a barrage on the enemy front before his advance commenced. Later in the day they suddenly found themselves without any of their own infantry in front of them, and saw the German waves advancing upon them. One haltery fired its guns over open sights unon the enemy, till the latter got within 500 yards and until it was almost surrounded. While some of the guns were firing right ahead others were slewed round until they were actually firing in the rear of the battery flank. Some German machine-gunners were seen to advance and occupy a house. The New Zealand gunners promptly trained their guns on that house and blew it into bits; then they dismantled their guns of all removable parts so that they could not be used by the enemy. By all the rules of the game the personnel of the battery should now have been taken prisoner or killed or wounded, but these gallant fellows were not to be so easilv got. They had in the meantime seized some Lewis guns and rifles and now proceeded to fight their way back as infantrymen, which thev did successfully, but not altogether'without loss. One would have thought that by this time they might very well have been prompted to rest on their achievements, but not so. Before long they were sunplied with new guns, and within 12 hours thev were in action again with these. The other batteries fought a rearguard action back to their new positions, without the loss of a single gun, and the whole are still shooting with much success in a very warm corner of the battlefield.