NEW ZEALANDERS IN GERMANY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17476, 22 January 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS IN GERMANY.

STORY OF THE TREK.

A GREAT EXPERIENCE

(Special ifrom the Official War Corra- | spondent, Jan. 16.)

CFer Press Association.> V WELLINGTON, Jnu. 21. The march of the New Zealanders from Jhe;scen£s of their ]atest triumphs in the war will be memorable to all who had t]i c igood fortune to take part in it. On \liq cessation of hostilities tlie great majority were naturally anxious to return to their own country, bin' any slight unwillingness there may have been aj the outsat on tlie part of so-nus to march to Germany, quickly vanished as the interesting experiences and possibilities of the journey gradually unfolded, The trek wa: from Benuvais by way of Solesnies, Cavao and IMaubeuge, then Chavleroi, Xamiir, Hu.v, Liege, Popinster, Verviers. Herbesiiia'i, to Cologne. Tho n>ardi was made l>y easy stages in dull weather, willi a good deal of <lri/,zlii?j; raiu. The men -carried ''heir packs and rifles :ii the devastated ami. Raihmv transport was unavailable, r.nJ in any ease was undesirable, a* delayed mines left by the enemy were stiil araing up. Aft^r crossing the Efc'giau frontier, the division entered upon * !ar;d of beautiful chateaux, tenanted only by caretakers. Various headquarters were billeted in these vert'ab'e marble hails. Evp.t the field cashier had a chateau, while in t]io village itse.lt die "dsggers" were 'treated with great hospifality. Th-> journey up she .valleys ni ih& Sambre and the Me use in'ovcd extremely intei'c sting.

The moiuent 'liberated Belgium wss etitered, the division was receivou with, joyful acclamation, and everjnvht-re unbounded enl-husiasm and hospitality -prevailed. Many Belgians wc-ra aware of the division's fighting prowess, and New Zealand'is generpus response with funous to alleviate distress resulting from tlie 'German invasion. They showered favours upon our men. and unforgettable scenes of welcome occurred at varipus Lalting-plaoes along the route. Officers and men were invited to breakfasts, dinners, and dances, at which these kindly people produced their best viands, and choice wines that had lain buried in the earth during the four years of enemy occupation. At Charleroi one .battalion, on the morning it left, had no one to provide breakfast for, as ."ill and sundrywwe e bei#g entertained by the inhabitants. Throughout ■the whole trek, which occupied three weeks, the conduct of the men was all that oculcl be d*>sir?d.

At Huy. 2,000 Russian prisoners, left behind by the Germans in their hurried retreat, were still being fed in the town. One noteworthy feature of the journey was the great quantity of'material, such as' motor lorries and heavy gun?, left behind in tlie German reireait. In Belgian towns and, villages tlig New Zealanders lisiened to many sad tales of the German occupation—tales such as would induce them to fight with renewed vigour and determination, should the necessity arise. At Verviers, a wool manufacturing centre, the New Zealanders were welcomed by several wool buyers, who had made many trif\s to Australia and N*»v 'Zealand.' Here the enthusiasm reached a high pitch. Crowds lined the streets. Men and women stuck miniature Belgian flags into the tunics and the riflebarrels of the troops, until the column, ablaze with t-foe national colours, pr>>sented a truly remarkable sight, march- J ing between the dense throng of cheer- j ing townspeople. Old men and women, I overcome witih emotion, shed tears, but they were no longer tears of sadness. In strange contrast to this thrilling scene, the German personnel near by were engaged in handing over rollingstock to British officers.

At Tamina] there was an issue of seAen thousand pairs, of boots t.o our men, whose footwear by this time was beginning to show signs of wear. Baths were established a«t certain stopping-p]ac-es, and from morn dll^eve thousands of men passed, through tiiem, according to pre-arranged timetables. Clean underclothing was supplied a_t ordnance dumps and supply refilling points. Excellent administration marked the trek, and the whole division became a machine moving with elocklike regularity.' On December 14th the division passed from the 4.th Corps, or 4th Army, under which it had fought, tts last battles, to the 2nd Corps, and came once again into General Plumer's 2nd Array, in which it had fought in Flanders. Up to the German frontier the division had to rely for supplies upon it* own motor transport. Extra personnel was obtained, and British drivers and New Zealand mechanics did splendid work. The German frontier was reached at Hesbesthale, and there the division entrained for Ehrenfeld, on the -outskirts of Cologne. Artillery, moJor ambulances and other motor transport vehicles moved by road. Entraining occupied three days, there being 21 traiu.s, each comprising 48 vehicles, drawn by Geraian engines manned by German engine drivers and stokers. A train left every three hours, the German arrangements being perfect, while 'thp loading of horses and vehicles was accomplished by the New Zealande-rs ■themselves with marvellous celerity. The train journey occupied about four hours. Billeting parties, accompanied by German interpreters, went on ahead. After detraining at Ehrenfeld, our 'troops marched through Cologne and crossed the Rhine on the Hohenzollern Bridge, and occupied an area of, German .territory east of the river, in the region of Mulreim and neighbouring villages.-

To-morrow the Prince of Wales will pay a. visit of a few days to the division, during which he wil] be the giKftt of General Russell, who at present is commanding the corps as well as the division.