"ANZACS" IN-LONDON

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2770, 13 May 1916, Page 7

"ANZACS" IN-LONDON

CHEERY AND OPTIMISTIC

AND SELF-CONFIDENT

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, May 11.

Another batch' of Anzacs has arrived in London: The men are cheery and optimistic, and their self-confidence ia noteworthy. All that: they are undei happy conditions in. Vlandors. The people of that country' are kindly but rapacious. The conditions arc infinitely better than they were on Gallipoli; tlio men liavo excellent food, including good soft bread and stews daily. Their trench equipm-iii't includes thigh boots and helmets. Many oi' the men carry English, French, and Uerman dictionaries, and hope to use their 'Uerman later.

.Some of the man declare that their machiue-guns recently caught a German detachment in an open road. Airmen reported that tho Australasian shooting was excellent. . It'is believed that tho artillery was effective during an attack. The Anzacs are specially interested in the British anti-aircraft shoot, j ing. They state that one of the gunners ' has repulsed scores of German machines. ( Several of th« units were east of Suez ( Canal awaiting the Turks when the oriter s came to leave for France. i FIGHTING IN FRANCE THE PRUSSIANS TAUGHT A ■LESSON London, May 11. Though Loinlon is accustomed to the Anzacs, it is a novelty ..to see them in full kit fresh from tho trenches, with mud cakiiig their puttees. Somo arriva. at Victoria Station almost. daily. They j are delighted with the change from Gallipoli. "I'ranoo is like home,mid'the fighting a'picnic compared. to that it Gallipoli. They are delighted with the ex. cellent organisation, especially that of the commissariat,. which issues' daily bioad, Water, and -bully-beef. .The Prussians recently, after hoisting boards calling the Anzacs "Scum of the 'Earth," attacked tho' trenches, but were driven • .back, to the evident satisfaction of the Saxons, who replaced 'the' Prussians aivl hoisted a board.inscribed, "The Scum of. tho Earth have beaten, tlie Prussians!" Ths. Anzacs are very proud of their splendid guns. The Germans attempted an attack at night; the guns immediately got the range and battered- the German benches, preventing their infantry attack.' The Gorman signals for the ambulances proved that the guns had dona good work. The A.i.v.acs cheered every signal. .The Gorman shell-fire is heavier than that of ilie Turks, but tho. Anzacs declare 'that France hitherto has been a comparative Test-cure. They. arc .not exposed ev.ery minute of the day and night, and When off duty,'- (o shells and snipers, Seme Anzacs tell a .story of a ploughman and a white horse. -They, believed the. ploughman to ! be ..a . spy, as ha ploughed where the Germans ought to shell.' The Anzacs went out at night and painted'-the horse red and brown. ' IN THE FRONT TRENCHES. -ONLY MINOR BOUTS WITH THE HUNS. '.. (Rec. May 12, 8.20 p.m.) _ ' London, May 12. The New Zealnnilers, who we.re the. last arrivals in France, entered ■ the front trenches! at .nn important point of the British front 1 a few days ago. Thev were well supported by artillery and only had minor bouts with the Germans.- They- ' expect,..as they are now to this .type of fighting,, they-will be favoured with some special German, {rightfulness,, but they we prepared for any emergency. 'A" New "Zealhnder on furlough said: 'Me are all right. If you hear.tho Germans ,hnve .captured — town- jou will know that all the New Zealnndcrs have been ..taken prisoners." . ' . THE ANZAC AS A FIGHTER. HOW WILL HT'J FARE'IN FRANCS? ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) .(Kec. May 12, 5.10 p.m.) . London, .. May 11. The Evening. Standard" publishes an article "The Ansa': as a. lighter; How will ho fare in France?" and stresses 'the fact that the Turk's feared the Anzacs more i than t/*,e other soldiers 'because of their dogged determination. Lacked by a cool, dear .brain. Britishers fight. because King and country have callcd them; tho Australasians light , with a different spirit,' and with grim and relentless ferocity, ever thinking, of their dead companions, aud fought v;ith fury to avenge them. The article .endorses the suggestion of the formation of an Anzac Army under General BirdwooJ, which it describes ns a happy idea, and one that would fire Australia and, New. Zealand .with !"ho utmost, enthusiasm.. EQUIPMENT TO BE CHANGED. "TOMMY" CLOTHES AND GI'MBOOITS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Kcc. May 12, 5.10 p.m.) London, .May 11. The Anzac. equipment is. likely to .undergo _ a change. The'"smasher'' tunic will disappear, and some of tho men are already receiving , "Ti.mmy" clothes and gumboots, which are greatly appreciated, not only owing, to the Flanders mud, but also because they arc useful to cook dinners. in. ■l't i is difficult to improve on the high spirits of the men on furlough, whose intentions are to make the best'of their stay in London. . The;-'reception preparations have improved, and charabancs are now provided to drive, them to their sleeping quarters irstenil of 'the expensive taxicabs. Several hundred theatre tickets atffdistrihutcd daily, and tho Anzac Buffet Inquiry Bureau gives advice on the conditions and lodgings in all cities in England.