THE ANZAC MOUNTEDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 246, 5 July 1918, Page 4

THE ANZAC MOUNTEDS

HIGH PRAISE FROM GENERALS. ' Sir James Allen has received from, i Lieutenant-General Cham-el, General Offi- . ccr of the Desert Mounted Corps in Palestine, copies of two letters from army ; and divisional commanders on this front, ■ in which complimentary reference is i made to the work of the Anzac troops. Copy of letter from Licutenant-General S. P. W. Chetwode to Major-General C, ' W.,C. Chaytor:i "My dear Chaytor —I write to ask you . to express to your gallant division and ; to tho I.C.C. my admiration and thanks ■ for the fine work they did cast of Jordan. ■ I liaTß many times had. occasion to admiro the gallant work of tho Aiimcs and I.C.C. sinco I came to Egypt, but I do not think they have ever had to ovcrcomo such difficulties of ground or i to undergo 6iich fatigue and hardships . as they have had to do in tho Mountains of Moab. It was a disappointment to you all, I know, not to bo able to complete the destruction of Hie railway; but as the C. in C. said, "If tho Anzacs and fiOths could not do it, no one could, and I know von feel he was right not to allow further loss of lifo when it becameapparent that tho enemy had boon so slronglj reinforced. I owe you personally a great debt for your fine leadership of tho operations before Amman. Will you convey the substance of this letter to vour command and tho I.C.C? -Tours (Sgd.) P.W.C. "I think that under tho circumstances 9GO prisoners, i guns, several machineguns and a big total of enemy dead is a verv lino performance.—Yours, etc., (Sgd.) Philip W. Chetwode." Copy of letter from Major-General .T. S. M. Shea to Lieutenaiit-General Sir 11. G. Chauvel. K.C.M.G., C.8.:~ "April 3._ "My dear General—The Anzac Division worked really splendidly during tho operations east of the Jordan. They had, great difficulties of country and weather to contend with, but they overcame the former and endured (lie latter with a fine spirit. They fought finely, and took heavy toll of the Turks. Indeed I think that they havo added another' fine performance to their long record of success. I have already expressed my deep sense of -gratitude 10, and my admiration for, the division to General Chaytor, and I am much indebted t-> him for the way in which ho handled the troops on the plateau. I would specially mention to you tho following:— "Tlio'A.M.R. crossed (he river directly a bridgehead was formed, and cleared tho bank and got Ghoraniyoh Crossing. It was a very finished performance, and carried out with skill and dash. "The N.Z.M.K. took Hill ». south of Amman, by v:ry skilful leading and. bold tactics. "Colonel Bell, 3rd L.H.. carried out a minor enterprise on the left Hank, near Es Salt (capturing thrco machine-guns and killing thirteen Turks), in a very nblo manner. "Tho Desert; Corps Bridging Train threw tho first bridgo over tho Jordan with great rapidity and under fire; "The A.I.E. Airline Section followed the infantry so oloselv to Shunct Nlmrin that they put up their wire actually under fire. This section, together with No. i Australian Wireless Section, WO Wireless Section, and tho A.I.F. Cablo Section, all of whom were most efficient, added to all we owe the Anzacs. '.'1 would like to express my admiration for them and my thanks to you. and lo say that this is a sentiment which is shared by niy whole division.—Yours (Sgd.) Shea. "P.S.—As T know that there are so many Australians in tho I.C.C. I would like'to tell you how finely they worked and fought. It was .nlv fixed determination' on the part of the men which got the camels up on to tho plateau over' a road which, 'only a track at best, was rendered most difficult by the rain."-