THE MAN INSIDE THE TANK.
HIS SENSATIONS AND EXPERI- ENCES IN BATTLE.
The daily work of a tank on the western front has been graphically described by
blows. scathed.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND, 1918,
JOFFRE AND HIS MEN.
THE VICTORS OF MAUREPAS.
CEREMONY BEHIND THE BATTLE FRONT,
DEEDS OF AN TRISH DIVISION.
MAJOR REDMOND'S APPEAL.
Major W. Redmond, brother of Mri John Redmond, has issued the following letter for publication
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measures for the elimination of enemy A Special Committee to suggest a young Australian soldier who was (BY THE TIMES BECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] wounded while serving in one of these
THE 19TH (INISH) DIVISION,
influence at home has been appointed by The picture of General Joffre presenting new engines of war. The description, in
The 18th Division, established just two the Unionist War Committee of the diary form, appeared in the Manchester medals to a handful of French officers years ago September, 1914-in response House of Commons. It includes men Guardian-
or privates, fresh from the battlefeld, is to the appeal of the Irish Nationalist who are eminently qualified by training MONDAY-Out for first time. Strange one of the commonplaces of the war leaders, has well justified its existence, and experience to report on questions sensation. Wors then being in a sub Every one has seen it--in the cinema and has a record of service of which affecting the Civil Service, the law of marine. At first unable to see anything, theatres. In real life it is not a com- Irishmen are proud. Bullets began to monplace. It is an inspiration. Even
naturalization, company law, and ship- Composed of but imagined a lot. rain like hailstones on a galvanized roof the kissing on both cheeks of the decorated battalions of all the well-known Irish ping. It is intended to make su exhaus TJIMANDEK at first, then like a series of hammer men, to English conceptiotis 30 quaintly regiments, the division trained at Fertise inquiry into the four branches of We passed through it all unsoldierlike, becomes a ceremony full 13 months under command of General them, and this should not be lost sight moy. Kilworth, and near Aldershot for the subject which have been referred to. Suddenly wo gave a terrible lurch I of meaning. The whole thing in the Sir Laurence Partons, and left for of in Hongkong the Committee will thought we were booked through. Look-embodiment of the brotherly spirit of France the middle of December, 1915, welcome any information which outside out said we were astrids an enemy trench Republican France at war with her under command of Major-General Hickic bodies or individuals can give, Pend- "Give them hell" was the order. We enemy and united in herself.
ing the appointinent of a Secretary, gave them it. Our guns raked and swept I saw it this morning, a day of grey. The division was employed in holding communications should be addressed to tronches right and left.
It self-restraint of it, the serious self- others, and in completing training from being at the reot of most of our present cloudy stillacas, and marvelled at the portions of the line and in working at Mr. Ronald M'Neill. In regard to | naturalisation, which is regarded as restraint of conscious strength in a grave December 25th still March 25th. On emergency.
Tae setting was a wide March 20th the division took over as a difficulties, it was suggested that the grassy expanse with a background of whole the Loos and Hulloch sectors of following changes in the Statute law vollowing trees, rather like a part of the the line and held the
of should be made sin park beyond the Long Water at Hampton or a rest of any kind. The division was. Court. Everything and every one was opposed by the Bavarian divisions curiously silent. The fringe of onlookers good fighting men who had never been spoke, if they spoke at all, almost in seterely mauled in any previous fighting whispers. Except for the whirring of and whose moral was high. Our tren- two sharp words of command from the the result of the British advance in solitary aeroplane overhead, and one orches were battle-build and battle-sited, officers, there was hardly a sound, till September, 1915. suddenly the band struck up a spirited were those of their second line which ind The German trenches drum and bugle march, and then the held up that advance at the end of the "Marchone, marchons!" of the
Mar battle. They had been most carefully and and the General come. sailla'se,"
tactically sited an prepared with great labour. The wire was very thick and strong. Every disadvantage of ground and position lay with us, In spite of this and of several strong heatile attacks. the division never lost a trench. Twice only during these six months did the Bavarians gain an entry into our tren ches; on both occasions they were driven out with losses.
TOWS.
Got a peep at frightened Huns. was grimly humorous. They tried to bolt like stared rabbits, but were shot down in bunches before getting to their bur- rows Machine-guns brought forward; Not the least impression was made: Shells began to burst. We moved on and overtook some more frightened Huas. Cut their ranks to ribbons with our fire."
They ran like men possessed. Officer tried to rally them. They awaited our coming for a while. As soon as our gun began to spit at them they were off once Infantry rounded them up, and more.
Very curious survivors surrendered. about us. Stood open-mouthed and wide- eyed watching, but weren't much the
wisar.
THE GENERALISBIME; DA
THROUGH GAS ATTACKSA
1. There should be a longer period of qualification.
2. The oath of allegiance should be j taken in all cases.
3. There should be power to revoke a naturalisation certificate,
4. Naturalisation in Great Britain should be accompanied by denaturali- sation in the country of origin. *. Commenting upon the subject, The Times says:
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"The appointment of an independent body of members in the House of Com- mons to deal with the question of chomy NETH. trading is a notable and welcome step. The subject, as our readers know, has long been a matter of the keenest public anxiety act only because of its essential importance to the future independence of this country, but because of a very general Impression that the Government this ns in other matters, bas things drift, without the spur of been, and will be content to let
informed and detailed criticism. Al
in
Experience was not altogether pleasant There was none of the ordinary pomp at first. Tank-sickness is as bad as sea of a military ceremony in time of peace sickness until you get used to them. Ho was in undress uniform and on foot, Trespay-Off for another cruise. Pep- and accompanied by only two officers, pering begun at once. Thought old thing Drawn up opposite to him facing the was going to be drowned in shower of direction from which he was coming, bullets ings quieten down quickly were the heroes of Maurepas, the 1st Silly lighters thought they could rush Infantry Regiment of the French Army, the tank like they would a fort. Dashed cited recently in the Orders of the Day-.. up from all sides. We fred at them long, motionless line of cloudy grey point blank. Devilish plucky chaps some blue, stretching far away into the dis and 20th two very severe attacks, in The division withstood on April 27th of them, for all their madness. The sur
astonishingly quickly for a man of his most concentrated form. On the latter build, the Généralisaime went straight of these two occasions the division suffer up to the right flank of the line and thered heavy casualties, but Providence was along it to the far end, without a word on our side for, the wind suddenly or a gesture except once to salute the changing, the gay blew back over the regimental flug in the central buttalion. German trenches where the Bavarian Still all this time, and until the General had already massed for attack. Taken had finally left the ground, there was by surprise, they left their front line and always the same unbroken deathly silence. ran back across the open under the heavy Even when he pinned the medals on the and well-directed fire of our artillery breasts of the handful of men drawn up In one battalion of the Bavarian Infantry in front of the three battalions, and when regiment the losses from their own gas in our mouths in sympathy. Nothing he decorated the flag of the regiment with and from our fire on that day were stated doing in the mishap line. Only some the Croix de Guerre, the proud distine to be by a deserter over 800, and the diary unwonted obstacle. Heavier stration won at Maurepas, there was not of a prisoner of another battalion cap ming on our key-board outside, and sound.
tured on the Somme in September states that his regiment also had about sou gassed cases, a large number of whom died.
vivors had another try. We spat at them tance. Walking rather heavily, but which the enemy used poison gas in its us are vitally concerned (in the terms
venomously. More of them went down.
sudden jerk, The blessed old tub gave God in heaven, thought I, it's good-bye to earth; but it wasn't. Only some Hun dead and wounded we had skidded into, The rain of bullets resumed. It was like as if hundreds of rivets were being ham mered into the hide of the tank. We rashed through. Soon the music had charms, and we got to like the regular rhythm of it.
Suddenly a jolt, and our hearts jolted
.*
more regular. Machine-guns at it now. Straddled on as though we liked it. A tremendous thud. The whole outfit seems- ed done for. Nearly jumped out of my skin. Looked at each other, and wonder- ed what it wa. Still a roof over our heads, thank God.
./
General, people, and soldiers, they were too near war and death for the ordinary noisy demonstrations of life. Most of the women were in black; nearly all the men in uniform. The regiment itself, though momentarily en repos, was straight from the front and very soon will be back there again--exactly where, the enemy will find out all in goou time Since the offensive on the Somme began, but especially at Maurepas and beyond it, they have been in the thics of one Thought of the thickest fights that even this war has seen, and the gaps that death and wounds have left in their ranke are still fresh.
WEDNESDAY.-Early start. Roughest voyage yet Waves of fire seemed to break over us. Tremendous crash. Then another, and several others at intervals. Bilence for a time. Party of Huns came to meet us outside the village. Very stout old gentleman in front.
it was the mayor and village big-pots to give us £ civic. welcome. Mistaken They meant to give warm reception, but not as wo understood the word. Let fly with machine-guns. Then tried silly boarding tactics. We laughed. Our guns
answered theirs.
FRIDAY,Early silost Usual showers of bullets and a low shells on the way, Got right across a trench, Made the sparks #y. Went along parapet routing out Huns everywhere. Enemy terrified. Tried to run, bug couldn't keep it up under our fire. Threw up the sponge, and surrendered in batches,
There was the sadness of war as well its gravity and determination in the air, a sadness that even made itself felt
to
The
of the Committee's reference) eliminate enemy influence in the condust of affairs of this country and in its public services. No one in his senses certainly no one who realizes the per- meation of Qur -commercial life by German influence before the war-would. dream of opposing such a policy. difficulty hitherto has been that the men who know best the infinite complexities of the subject have been too much o onpied to give their minds to it, that the influences in favour of leaving things alone are immensely powerful, and that nothing is ever achieved by vague, how- ever well-founded, assertion.
*Sir Edward Caraun's new Committee can do much to give substance and The division was subjected to scvoral | direction to this national movement. It severe bonibardinents during the months consists of men whose single-minded of May and June. It was of common patriotism in beyond question, and who occurrence for the enciny to send over combine, among them a good deal of from 2,000 5,000 5 9 shelly in a day. The experience and special knowledge, We division carried out many raids, the may be allowed in particular to note greater number of which were successful with satisfaction the names of Sir Owen a good number of Germans killed, some Philipps and Mr. Leslie Scott, both of prisoners taken, and considerable damage them closely associated in differents ways done to the hostile lines. The main re with the great problem of the trosatile sult of these raids was to increase the marine We note them because, if there moral superiority of our men, Frem is one side of the enemy trailing question December in the Loos sector the division more important to us, and more fraught had considerable casualties in oficers and with anxiety, than another, it is that men, the result of constant trench war which concerns our futuro national posi fare
tion in the shipping of the world. There Tank reception committee dispersed in in the notes of the vigorous quick-step Orders were received for the division are. still mysterious elements in the a cloud of smoke and flame; no trailing that the bond played as they headed the to proceed to the Somme. They were Gorman ambmarine campaign, but at clouds of glory. Fat old gentleman only regiment in the march past, and then relieved that night and marched back for least one broad inference can certainly visible member of deputation. Stend took up their position opposite the two days in pouring rain to the railway be drawn, and that is that it sims im- open-mouthed. Purple with rage. Tank saluting base, or rather the point where stations in the rear. Arrived at their partially as the destruction of tonnage horo down. Old gent started to run the General was standing alone. Then destination, they marched up in the rain during the war, with the intention of snp- Fannier than a sack-race. Old gent flung the three battalions of the regiment to the camps in the rear of the battle plying its place from German shipyards himself to earth with many signs of aur moved quickly past in quarter column arca. On September 1st one brigade hereafter. That intertion can and must render.
na steadily and rhythmically as if they moved forward to relieve. worn-out be frustrated The question of the mer- THURSDAY.-Got into the village, and had been living for months past the cor troops of another division, and the cantile marine should play a definite passui down between two irregular rowsporate life of the barrack-square and the brigade took part in the assault on part, as we have always thought, in the of wrecked houses. Hundreds of Huns parade-ground, instead of the individual Guillemont. Two battalions of a brigada terms to be imposed at the end of the came, rushing up from cellars and from life of the trenches, a forest of slender, lent for a similar purpose to the division war. But in the meantime no stone behind ruins to see us. Some had eyes gleaming bayonets, and long swinging on the corps right were used in the thould be left unturned to seek out and staring out of hosd. Looked surprised capotes, and martial helmets. And beattack on the Corables trenches, and in scutch every attempt on the part of and even frightened,
One blighter made a rush at us with with, ite attendant band or rifeless point the afternoon of September 9th the controlling position in any branch of hind them all, bringing up the rear, the advance through Leuzy Wood, On Germany and her friends to maintain a clubbed rifle. Made a terrible swipe At the look. Smashed his rifle, and made curs, one of the guns which finally broke assault against Gineby and the hostile our trade and commerce.
We suggest a nasty noise on our roof. Hurt himself down the stubborn resistance of the trenches cast of Guillemont took place that, where all are agreed about the end more than he hurt us. Off for a joy-ride enemy.
The lases sustained between the 1st and in view, Bir Edward Carson and his after some nice Hans who took to flight
PAPA " JOFFRE.
10th of September were in proportion to friends might well consider the enlarge. As the last of them went by and the the extent and gallantry of work done. as we came up.
nient and strengthening of their Com General turned away, with a passing
· SUCCESSES ON THE ROMME.
mittee by the inclusion of other, and not salute to the group of foreign Attachés During the 11 days which the division necessarily Unionist, elements. This is drawn from nearly all the countries of was engaged on the Somme they sanoi far too wide and deep-rooted a problem the world who had been watching the largely in the capture of Guillemont and for anything but the most informed and ceremony, a little story about the Chief took Ginchy-two strongholds which had searching treatment. What is really of the French Army came into my head defied the efforts of our troops for some needed is the formation of a strong body which is to me typical of the whele of considerable time and they repelled of mon, limited neither to the Unionist his relations with the armies of the several counter attacks of more or less Party nor to the House of Commons, One cheeky chan said he didn't think Republic.
Se severity. The losses inflicted on the who are absolutely united to secure the it was fair to fight with such things. We
He had called for volunteers for enemy in prisoners, killed, and wounded independence and supremacy of British said that was our affair, and we could special air-service which meant almost were considerable, 800 prisoners being trade, finance, and shipping."...* stand the racket Germany cared to make certain death. The three men selected taken at Guillement alone. The spirit, over it. Asked one chap if he thought from the crowd who came forward saluted courage, and determination of the men, we should have got permission from the and were quietly walking away when he and displayed by all ranks during the
BIDE BY SIDE WITH ULSTEILMEN. Kaiser before using them. Didn't see the
There were too prored cases of deser joke. Took about 200 prisoners. Killed stopped them with a word. Est-ce que les operations, was beyond all praise tion in the design. In both cases the and wounded as many more. Tired out
enfanta vont à la mort sans embrasser On the night of September 8th, after men were subsequently found taking when through
leur papa?" he asked, and kissed them the capture and consolidation of Ginchy, their full share in the fighting at Ginchy SATURDAY-On the move before break-each in turn.
the relief of the division commenced. It On one occasion the division found itself fast Terrible crash first go off. The depth of the brotherly and fatherly was complete on the 11th inst, and the side by sids holding the line with the Thought we had collided with a wander-relations existing in the French Army division went into a back aren. On the Ulster Division, and when the men met ing world. Weathered the storm. Got between officers and men has always, 20th orders were received for it to take from time to time the best of good feel- busy on enemy trenches, Rare good throughout the war, seemed to me to be over a new line. This relief was coming and comradeship was shown sa bo- sport. Enemy tried a surprise for infau one of the great secrets of the strength pleted on the night of September 23rd tween brother Irishment. try-Yorkshiremen-advancing to attack. of our Allies. I am more than ever con- and 24th. A new chapter of the division's We tried a surprise, too, and our came vinced of it now that I have seen the history, already remarkable, has com off Brst. Huns weren't pleased. Didn't Généralissime, with some of his men and menced. I am informed by the Divisional think it was playing the game according have talked to General de Castlensu, the Commander that on every occasion when to Potsdam rules.
gallant old French officer who has lost the division left We waddled into their ambush for the three of his own sons in the service of civil authorities, headed by mayor and perience of soldering when they joined a district the French majority of whom had absolutely no ex- attacking troops. Never saw men to France and her Allies, care, have called upon him to expres from all parts of Ireland the 16th frightened. Fled panic-stricken in all directions. Only a few chaps stayed
their admiration and appreciation of the It remains to be said that the 16th behind and tried to stop us by machine rife on us at 200 yards.
conduct of the troops and of their deep | Division needs reinforcements, and at It went like gune fire. Smushed them to bits, and left water off a duck's back. Frits couldn't religious feeling which was constantly once. It would be a thousand pities their machine-guns to be picked up by make it out. Kept up the fire, but got a The behaviour of the division has been heroic and if the division which has
evidenced. T
indeed, it would be like a betrayal of the the Yorkshiremen they hoped to surprise. bit nervey as the blessed old thing kept exemplary, and both officers and men brought och honour to the Irish
Went sorting after the enemy wherever waddling up to him. Ladled out death we could find them. Their losses wore as you might way out indiferent and have shown on all occasions the utmost nam ceased to be Irish. This must terrible. Later strong detachments tried from a hardy-gurdy great gallantry and devation to duty, The inevitably happen, unless reinforcemente to make their way back supported by big Fritz got fita. No fight left in bim number of military honours won by the come from Ireland. It is the confident guns. Lined up scross the road, and gave Prisoners scared to death. Some of them division in over 200. This includes two hope of offoors and men alike that all them hot time. Every time they tried acted as though they believed that we used Russian honours-Lance Corporal T who lose Ireland will see to this. What to rush through we ripped their ranks to our tanks for making sausages out of McMahon Royal Munster Fusiliers was ever other differences may be, is it too bita
At last they gave it up. Very prisoners. We had a lot of trouble ex awarded the Cross of St. George, 2nd auch to ask that all who love Ireland plaining that once they surrendered they Class, equivalent to our Victoria Cross shall smile, irrespective of creador continued. Better better deed, Finished an Fritz didn't think that, Blighters opened of fun, but one wants a good rest after St. George, 4th Class.
Dublin Fusiliers, received Cross of Division, which it was so the Loos tran (Continued at fost of nett Column)
obes and at the hard fought fields of & spell with a tank.
(Continued at foot of soxi Column,) Guillemon; and Ginchy!
wise of them..
Such in brief is the record of the first two years of the existence of the 16th (Irish) Division, composed as it is, like other divisions, of men the overwhelming.
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