Travis killed

Macandrew’s Bay, a popular Otago Harbour weekend resort. — Otago Witness, 14.8.1918.
Macandrew’s Bay, a popular Otago Harbour weekend resort. — Otago Witness, 14.8.1918.
New Zealand Headquarters, August 8: Today Sergeant Richard Charles Travis and an officer who was with him were killed by a stray shell.

In Sergeant Travis the New Zealand force loses one of its bravest soldiers, who made a specialty of raiding, and had earned more than local fame for his many successful exploits. His methods in raiding were peculiarly his own. He was somewhat of a character, and a man of great resources and considerable initiative. He studied thoroughly beforehand his various enterprises, thus eliminating as far as possible the ordinary risks of war. He carefully marked down those of the enemy destined for destruction, or capture, or both, much as a big game hunter stalks his prey, and notes and places to his own advantage the configuration of the country and the cover available. Whether raiding by night or in broad daylight, Travis was invariably successful, and he was well backed by other daring Otago men who accompanied him. It is the irony of fate that, after his many dangerous exploits in battle and his raiding in No Man’s Land, he should fall a victim to a chance shell. He had been awarded the D.C.

M, the Belgian Croix de Guerre, the Military Medal, and a bar to the latter.

Successful offensive

There is material for profound satisfaction in the knowledge that the Allied success in the strenuous and protracted battle which has brought complete defeat to the Crown Prince’s attack between the Aisne and the Marne has been supplemented by such important results as have accrued from Sir Douglas Haig’s offensive on the  Somme front. The Anglo-French attack, which was launched on Thursday last, has been attended by dramatic and gratifying success. Already the infantry have advanced ten miles, while the cavalry have pushed further ahead and 25,000 prisoners, together with 400 guns and great quantities of supplies and war material, abandoned in the  hurry of the German retreat, have fallen into the hands of the Allies.

Australian steamers

It is rumoured that Dunedin business people are faced with serious disability as regards steamer service with Australia. The likelihood, it is said, of the result of persistent efforts being made by Auckland business men to induce the Union Steam Ship Company to take off one of the boats, which has previously come to this port from Australia, and put it on the Auckland service to replace the Wimmera. Business men in Dunedin strongly resent a proposal which, if carried out, must have a detrimental effect on the trade of Otago.

Air safetyAs an illustration of the comparative safety of air travel, Colonel Sleeman (Director of Military training ) stated in a lecture at Auckland that  nearly 200 pupils had gained flight certificates in the two New Zealand aviation schools without a single fatal accident.

Akaroa history

It was 78 years ago on Sunday that the British flag was hoisted over Akaroa Bay by Captain Stanley. R. N., and British authority exercised for the first time in the South Island by holding of a court. The French frigate L’Aube arrived two days later, and the vessel Comte de Paris, with 57 immigrants, three days after. — ODT, 12.8.1918.

 

• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ

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