AUSTRALIAN DISCIPLINE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 272, 17 February 1941, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN DISCIPLINE

SOMETIMES SHY AT SALUTING British and Dominion war correspondents have been put right on the subject of the discipline of the A.I.F. This was done during an address by Brigadier A. W. Wardell, an Australian Staff Corps officer, seconded to the A.1.F., who referred to the "ill-informed criticism heard from time to time." It was frequently stated that Australians fought well when up against it, but at other times -were "a pretty undisciplined mob." The fact, said Brigadier Wardell. was that they were accustomed to think for themselves and were not used to an upper class to which they were expected to show some deference. First Things First. Essentials mu:;i come first, and in Australia's army created principally from civilians, outward symbols of military discipline had to take second place to the urgent problem r.f getting them trained. It was true a noisy minority sometimes demonstrated animal "spirits away from home, "but I assui'e you it is a minority which, unfortunately. is sometimes depicted as typical of the whole rorce," added the officer

Australian reluctance to salute did not imply disrespect for officers, in fact, in many cases it indicated shyness on the part of those accustomed to being their own bosses and not taking readily to making the strange gesture. It was not true that the Australian* soldier was so independent that he had to be persuaded not ordered. That was sheer nonsense. There was no question of sovicts within the ranks deciding whether to do this or that "Our men look to leadership,," he added. "Their officers come mostly from the ranks, and, once confide,nee is established, it is impossible to get more willingness to carry out orders in action."

HITLER'S FRIEND REPORTED SLAIN Despite rigid censorship, says the Bucharest correspondent of the Daily Express, it is reported that a Greek assassinated Otto Dietrich, chief of the Nazi Press in Germany, outside the Hotel Ambassador, General Antonsecu, Rumanian Preit is stated, was standing at Dietrich's side, and had a narrow escape. An earlier message from Belgrade had given the murdered man's name as Major Doring, of the German General Staff. Since Ernest Hanfstaengl fled from Germany, and ended up in a Canadian internment camp, Hitler had relied upon another close friend in Dr. Dietrich, as chief Press adviser and controller. Two years ago, when he was Un-der-Secretary at the Propaganda Ministry, there were stories that Dietrich was to replace Dr. Go-eb-bels.

IF THE NAZIS USE GAS WATER FOR LONDON SHELTERS A pump filter lias been specially designed by a London firm for purifying tainted water in the event of the Nazis using poison gas in future air raids. It is a simple instrument, not much heavier than a garden syringe, yet the cylinder of activated charcoal through which thei contaminated. water is pumped assures an adequate and safe supply of clean water to people in air raid shelters. Portable pump filters of similar design arc being regularly sent overseas. They are equally valuable in securing to scientific and prospecting missions a pure supply of water from streams or standing pools, ' Ring No. 10 for that next Printing order. Beacon Box 7.