AUSTRALIA'S BAD LUCK

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1918, Page 4

AUSTRALIA'S BAD LUCK

An officer son of Mr D. R. Barton* of Sydney, in a letter from somewhere in France, dated May 2, says:— “Our Australians are making a wonderful name for themselves in this open fighting. The French swear by them. I do not think theie are any better troops here. The New Zealanders and South Africans are very good, too, especiall}" the New Zealanders, but they are so few in number. If the Australians had not been taken away from the northern sector at the time of the Somme attack, Ido not believe the present great German attack ever would have taken place. They would never have got past our chaps. Australia can curse her rotten luck that she had not another hundred thousand men here as good as the first, and the Boche can thank his lucky stars. The Australian veteran troops over here now are real swash-biic.klers, regular fighting men. They have their faults, of course, but if you go in for a real high class lighting dog you cannot expect him to behave like a poodle. No words of mine can express what I feel for onr men. They are the most jaunty, confident, unbeatable fellows yon ever saw. I saw one of them get knocked down one day by the concussion of a shell. He got up, dusted his hat, and walked back to bis mates laughing, aud. that is typical of them all.”