A Courteous Devil

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 February 1916, Page 3

A Courteous Devil

Li tlie Australian soldier is a uevn 10 iigut, ne s a very polite ueul. W nun Auuui, uiuiily tlecxuiing ttJtxL it \ViU>Li I ti ti'U'P» walked into blio clbsgi tctL "fcicii dies lie found this oomiiiuaiiiuu ut headquarters ol 0110 ot the Light Horse brigades:— lo Oonnnauder, TURKISH FO.RGES, Gallipoli, TurKey. The Brigadier presents his compliments to our worthy Turkish opp '•n----ents, and offers those wlio first ho'v; his quarters with their presence s ch hospitality as in his power to give, regretting that he is unable pe io 1aily to welcome. After a pleasant sojourn of se en months in Gallipoli we propose to uike some little relaxation at that period iii which we are instructed by a B yu or Power to observe "Goodwill inwards all men," and m bidding sn' l'evoir to our honorable foes we Australians desire to express appreciation ol the fine soldiery qualities of our Turkish opponents, and of the sportsniauHke manner in which they participated in a very interesting contes* honorable, we trust, to bo; h s.des For a little while we have been w.tli you, yet a little while and "o 1 sludl see us not. For us it is a til..-', er ol deep regret that the anc« >nt friendship so long existing between the Hriii-11 and Turkish Empires should hav ■ been thus disturbed and broken by the insidious machinations of the arch-, .h ■< y ol humanity. Wo have left this area and trenches in which we have taken considerable trouble and pride, clean and in good order, and we will bo grateful if they be maintained until our return, particular care being asked in regard lo matters of sanitation so vital to the health and well-being oi an army. \Ve hope that you will find the wine, coffee, tobacco, cigarettes and food to your taste, and, a supply of fuel has been left iti the cupboard, to ameliorate in sonic measure your discomfort during the cold watches ot the winter. Our only request is that 110 member of the nation who was guilty ol tiie inhuman murder of that noble woman, Miss Edith Caveli, to whose portmuthis message is attached, will be permitted to pollute witu his presence the quarters of soldiers who have never yet descended to such barbarous una ruthless methods. On the mess-room table was spread a banquet of available loods. wines anu tobacco. Said Abdul 111 astonishment. "Allah is great, but these are wonderful 1"