NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16146, 26 February 1918, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

» FIGHTING IN PALESTINE. Although the troops which entered Jericho were men. of the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Brigade, a good deal of the fighting that preceded the occupation was done by the London infantry, of whom Mr W. T. Massey, the official correspondent, speaks most highly. In this latest engagement they evidently equalled their performances in the fighting beyond Gaza and Beersheba early last November. On that occasion Mr Massey spoke of their achievements in a manner which should have made the hearts of all Londoners thrill with pride. After describing General Allenby's drive, in which he forced the enemy back to tho lino of tho Wadi Sukereir, Mr Massey continued : "The heat, which is very great, is made additionally trying by a. hot wind raising vast dust-clouds, while wide tracts of country are being churned into dust by tho wheels and horses and marching men. Our troops, fighting under these difficult conditions, are displaying superb military qualities of endurance and courage. The whole fortnight's operations are a magnificent tributo to the spirit of General Alienby s army. The troops have been faced by tremendous obstacles, difficult country, long and tiring marches, a strong i and stubborn enemy, the stupendous problem of transport, dust, heat, and lack of water, which only tho stoutesthearted men could surmount. All these obstacles have been beaten by forethought and British doggedness." "LONDON'S PRIDE." The hardest part of the work referred to was carried out' by tho London Territorials, who had many opportunities and made the most of them, , their achievements ranking high in the many fine deeds of tho war. A distin- : guislicd officer, who had seen nearly three years of war in France, and ( watched every movement of tho London County Territorials in Palestine, told the correspondent that he could not . speak of them without a lump rising ] in his throat. This was his considered < judgment:— ' "These Cockneys arc the best men in tho world; their spirits aro simply won- ' derful. Ido not think any division * over went into a big show with a higher 1 moral. After three years of war it was refreshing to hear tho men's earn- j estly expressed desire to go into action again. These grand fellows went for- f ward with full bloom upon them; there \ never was any hesitation; tho discipline was absolutely perfect, the phy- ] sique and courage alike magnificent. Their valour is beyond words. Tho ' Cockney makes the perfect soldier. ' "Whether tho men came from Ber- j mondscy, Camberwell, Kennington, or belonged to what were known as tho : class corps before tho war, or battalions equally good, they trained," says_ Mr Massey, for months for the big battle till their bodies were brought to 1 such a state of fitness that the Spartan faio during the ten days of ecascless ' action caused neither grumble nor 1 fatigue. The men may well be re- 1 warded with the title of "London's ' 1 ride, ' and London is honoured by 1 navnig such stalwarts to represent tho ' heart of the Empire. f . ,^ n days the men marched ] sixty-six miles, and fought a number of hot actions. The march mav not < seem long, but Palestine is not" Salis- ] bury Plain. A leg-weary man asked ' by an officer if his feet were blistered replied, 'They're rotten sore, but my heart's gay.' "