DOMINION TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 228, 14 June 1918, Page 6

DOMINION TROOPS

« WAR CABINET'S TRIBUTE SERVICES RENDERED IN 1917 "The share of the .Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, South African, and Newfoundland contingents in the successes of the 1317 campaign are well known," says the 'War Cabinet in its review of last year's operations. "The capture of Vimy Ridge in April, the prolonged and bitter fightinjr around Lens during the whole summer and autumn, and the capture of Paeschendaele were carried out by Ihe Canadian Corps, which has thus proved itself as excellent, in offensive as its splendid defence of Ypves in J915 had shown it to be in defensive fighting- The Now Zealand and Australian contingents have corresponding achievements to their credit iu their share of the battle of Messines and in the long-sustained and bitterly-contested fights in the Tpres salient from Jult to .November.

"The South African Brigade sustained the brilliant reputation which it won Inst year at Bclvjllc Wood by the brilliant services it rendered on the battlefields of Arras and Ypre?. Finally, the Newfoundland Hegiment took a glorious ami costly part in the sumo two battles. The troops of all the Dominions have shown themselves throughout the campaign of 1917 to have maintained the historic standards of the British Army, and havo baeu worthy rivals of Hie United Kingdom troops in every military effort and achievement. This testimony to thb services rendered by (he, Dominions would not be complete without some reference to the part placed by South Africa in German Hast Africa, where her troops have borne, under the brilliant leadership of General van Deventer, a conspicuous share in a peculiarly arduous campaign.

"Tho smaller colonies and protectorates have nulurally been unable to play so great and «o conspicuous a part in the world war, but in iheir own spheres they have contributed their full sliare to tho military effort of tho Empire. Labour aud lighting troops were freely drawn upon for the Mcsopotamian and East African West Africa, British East Africa, Uganda, Nyasaland, and Khodesia have all sent' contingents to light in German East Africa. Sixteen thousand men from the West Indies Havo beeu sent across the Atlantic; and labour corps from the eastern colonies have been scut to the il.esopotamiau and East African fronts, and, despite unfavourable' conditions, to the Western theatre. A largo number of individuals from overseas possessions, such us the Malay. States and Hongkong, have also joined the Imperial Forces.

"Finally India's contribution, both in man-power, material, and money, has eteadily increased througnout tlio year. India has taken a very important sharo in the victorious campaign m Mesopotamia. The great majority of the troops in this theatre of war are Indian. They haye fully sustained the high reputation of the Indian Army for gallantry and endurance. Indian forces have also rendered conspicuous service in France, Egypt, and East Africa. The (jutuijun of the supply of olh'oers, especially medical officers, has been solved; commissions have been granted to Indians, and it voluntary Indian Defence Forco is now being organised and»trained. Special mention should be made of the loyal and effective assistance of the Indian ruling princes) and chiefs, from tho smallest to the greatest Trouble on the north-west frontier with Mahsuds and Mohmands has been successfully confined within narrow limits, and has now been satisfactorily suppressed."