THE EXPENDITIONARY FORCE

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14029, 4 April 1919, Page 5

THE EXPENDITIONARY FORCE

I THE DEPARTURE FROM COLOGNE. GOOD demobilisation work. "WATCH ON THE RHINE 1 ; ENDED, A GLORIOUS CAREER CLOSED. NEVER ONCE IN RETREAT. (Special from Official Correspondent.)' France, March 25. To-day the last draft of our men in Germany marched back across the Rhine. The . last routine order wassigned by Colonel Avery, and the New Zealand Division ceased to exist. Formed at the beginning of 191C> from the remains of brigades that had earned undying fame on Gallipoii and the newly-formed Ride Brigade, it crossed the sea to France, where it quickly began to earn fame on bittlefiekis of the Western front. Seme Fine Records. The Sornme, Messines, Passohendale, Bapaume and Le Quesnoy are milestones along its victorious pathway. Through all its fighting career it has been commanded by the one General, whose high ideals it has always endeavoured to achieve. In all its stirring history it has never been in retreat. ' Once only has it failed to take an objective, and even in that failure, which was an attempt at the impossible, it added to its record yet another splendid page of heroism.and determination. The fewness of the prisoners it has lost, as well as the battles it has helped to win, may be taken as some measure of its bravery, while the almost complete absence of serious offences is an indication, of the excellence of its conduct in the field. Even in Germany, where the remembrances of the methods adopted by the enemy in warfare might have given cause for breaking the bonds of ordinary discipline, it has conducted itself in a manner worthy of its best traditions. On the eve of its disbandment the head of one of the great industrial concerns in Germany, in and about which it was billeted, has stated that no fault could be found with the conduct of the New Zealand officers and men. •• Work of Demobilisation. Demobilisation commenced with .a draft that was despatched from Cologne on January 14th, although odd drafts numbering 2500 had left during the four preceding weeks. Thereafter, with the exception of one week,' drafts varying from 700 to 1000 of all ranks ' were despatched. Every Tuesday 15 officers and 600 other ranks proceeded to the base at Rouen with their horses, and were demobilised from there. In addition the men of the division were allowed to retain their leave allotment during and as it was arranged that these, men should not return; another 1000 were disposed of; by that means. Similarly the majority of the officers proceeding on leave after the middle of February were retained in England, the number of officers in the division being far in excess of th i number required to accompany the drafts. Periodically other officers were sent to England on duty and did not return. The Pioneers. * The pioneer battalion was despatched, complete with its transport, from Yerviers to Dunkirk on' Christmas eve, and therefore did not see Germany. Sixty officers and 900 others were evacuated sick between December 28th and March 25th, and did not return. All the drafts were despatched from Cologne to Rouen, and the journey averaged' from 55 to CO hours. In order to maintain the division as a-fighting portion throughout demobilisation reorganisation from time to time was necessary, and in addition the civil administration of divisional area had to be maintained. Horses and Stores. Four thousand three hundred horses were disposed of by return to the base, sale to abattoirs and - evacuated sick. The whole of the vehicles, guns and ordnance equipment of the division are being used in connection with equipping the new army of the Rhine. The ordnance and veterinary stores have been handed in, and everything has been carefully checked and receipts obtained. The divisional canteens were recently closed down, and as much plant 'as possible sold and credited to the three canteen funds. The discipline during demobilisation has been very good, only one serious case having occurred. This case was of a machine-gunner concerned in a highway robbery. He was killed by German - policemen, and a private was killed by some German roughs. The chief culprit unfortunately escaped, but four others concerned were sentenced to two years' imprisonment. A German representative present commented upon the fairness with which a British Court conducted the trial.

. Altogether those immediately concerned with demobilisation and the handling of the ordnance deserve great credit for the efficiency with which they did their woi&. The Y.M.G.A. deserve special credit for the manner they provided comforts for all drafts. Farewell to Cologne.

General Godley paid a final visit to the Division to-day, and divisional'headquarters were closed at noon at Mulheim. The final draft to-day comprised 29 officers and 080 other ranks. Early in the afternoon the last of the infantry marched across Cologne bridge, past the statues of the Hohenzollerns still proudly riding their bronze horses, and so to the station. At four o'clock a long troop train steamed away for Rouen, and soon the great cathedral spires faded in the distance, and the New Zealanders' part in the great war and their "Watch on the Rhine" has alreadybecome memories of the past. COMING HOME. REMUERA AT NEWPORT NEWS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received Anril 4, a.m. NEW YORK, April 3. A message from Newport News states that the Remucra has arrived, on route for the Panama Canal, with 1000 New Zealanders and 300 English wives aboard. NEW ZCALANDERS OUT OF GERMANY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.} WELLINGTON, Friday. Advice has been received by the Minister of Defence (hat the New Zealand Division is now out of Germany. the last draft having been dispatched. from Cologne to Rouen on March 2Cth. RETURN OF THE PIONEERS. great preparations AT WANGANUI. 9\ WANGANUI, Friday. Rig preparations are being made to welcome the West Const and South Island detachment of (lie Maori Pioneers Rattalion, who will arrive on Monday. Larse numbers of Maoris are arriving from all parts of the Dominion to participate in the hui.