SINGING ARMIES TO THE RESCUE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1917, Page 1

SINGING ARMIES TO THE RESCUE

BRITISH SOLDIERS CHEER DEPRESSED ITALIANS. Published in the “Times.” LONDPN, Nov. 17. .Mr. Ward Price, official representative in Italy writes:— “I have seen the most, eheerful sights in the last two days in northern Italy. 'l’he roads are thick with British khaki and blue-clad Frenchmen, with their regimental bands, putting new heart in to the.ltalian soldiers and anxious civilians. “Last! night I saw an English battalion plugging steadily onward through the mud, the hand playing a brisk march. The men’s cheery confidence: filled the narrow street with a tumult of lively optimism. The villagers stood outside' their doors cheering, gesticulating and waving their handkerchief’s so wildly under, the street lamps that a colonel’s horse curvetted with excitement. “Each day Allied - reinforcements reach Italy in greater numbers. Some French crossed the Alps through the passes, which are already snow-covered, the railways being congested, thus repeating Napoleon’s achievement, lmt in order to save, not to conquer Italy. These already have been sent to the npnointed place on the Italian defences. During the last two days I kept pace with long columns, complete from regi-

mental colors to baggage-wagons. The men are delighted to he here- The change of scene, the unfamiliar surroundings. the delicate golden sunshine of Italian autumn, are all to their taste. Our men are fit to jump out of their skins in their new joy of ad venture, although when they were order ed to start for Italy some of them had just: come out of the line for a long rest. WINDING- DP WifTCH ON THE RHINE. “Last night I saw an English troop train at- a station. The confused roar of choruses heralded its arrival. The men were boisterously chanting, despite a four or five days and nights journey, ‘There’s a Long,'Long Road awaiting.’ ‘Oh! Oh! I am Surprised at You,’ ‘When we-ve wound up the watch on the Rhine and other songs. The roar and the high spirits made you think that the troops were entering oil a ready-made victory, instead of a desperate effort to help retrieve defeat. Their demonstrative cheorfnness greatly surprised the Italians whose troops do not sing much at any time, and now are loss disposed to sing than ever.- The Tommies’ cheerful spirits are infectious. Soon all the Italians were smiling, and those with a smattering of English were shouting ‘Horray, you English feller.’ “The towns where the Tommies are quartered are arranging entertainments of Mr. Wn. and the Bing Boys in honor of our English guests.’. The kilts are most popular. a s is inevitable in every new country. Tt is a wonderful spectacle. these Kilties surmounted . with Tam-o’-Shanters, Wandering in the quaint old mediaeval town, sight-seeing with characteristic Scotch solemnity, regardless of the close survey of hundreds of curious eyes. The Allies’ troops are marching forward to their line on roads which wind round foothills whereon stand terracotta castles Hid walled towns, which fought each other in the Middle Ages. ADVANCING ON THE GOLDEN PLAIN. “Elsewhere we are advancing on a rich plain golden with countless rows of uitii-nm-tiiited mulberry trees, tlie fertile' soil planted with wheat which is 'showing green, trailing vines stretched •cross intensely-cultivated ground. To ‘he northward where the snow-covered •rests of the lower Alps gleam in the uiiiset, the enemy pushes on towards the fair plaiy. As the men rest at the ■oadskle they hear plainly the solemn 'nutter of the guns of their new foe.” Mr. Jeffries. “The Times” correspondent at- Italian Headquarters, states that tlie enemy is desperately attacking in the Trentino and adjacent mountains, where by the upper waters of the Breiita and the Piave the fortunes of tin l Italian army are at stake. The Italians are resisting doggedly where they fought their great defensive battles in 191(5, in the midst of the last resting-places of their comrades in that struggle. The Alpini and the other troops are determined not to . yield these tombs, and not to allow the enemy to force an entrance to the plains. Their password is “Diqun nonsi passa” (‘They shall not get through’) They will certainly defend the posts to the end.