PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1928, Page 3

PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

AVAR HISTORY PRAISE. Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Jau. 28. The hardships of Australian Light Horse and New Zealand Alouuted Rifles in desert campaigning are told in all unvarnished style m the British Official History of the War, in Egypt and Palestine to June, 1917. It is highly appreciative of the Dominion troops part and sportingly describes the failure of Chauvcl’s gamble to carry .Bir cl Abel in August 1910. A tribute is paid to the Anzae mounleds’ tenacity and physical endurance, to which the Romani victory was largely due.

Later it describes the overthrow of Redoubt at Rafali hv New Zealand as an outstanding dashing assault. A most detailed description of the two Gaza battles includes reference to the controversy over the retirement a the first battle, after the more advanced troops, including Anzae mounteds. had actually reached Giv'.a streets. 1; quotes Australian Official History that Chnuvel made a. strong protest against the order to retire. A British footnote hereto says; “No written protest is on record. C'haurcl says the note was made by him verbally' either by messenger or telephoned.”

The history constitutes an amazing record of how the tremendous difficulties of the desert were overcome by engineering and scientific means, notably the water supply, transport and handling of wounded.

Referring to the purely military aspect of the conquest: ‘‘lt was made chiefly notable by the work of the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Horse, the young nations laying the foundation of a record which will not be forgotten in the history of mounted warfare.”