CABLEGRAMS

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 January 1917, Page 2

CABLEGRAMS

+— (Australia-New Zealand Cable Service) [PEtt PRESS ASSOCIATION, j PRAISE FROM THE ENEMY. New York. Jan. 20. Von Wiegand, the most famous American correspondent in Germany—an American born— is on a brief visit to New York. He gave an "exclusive" interview to the Australian Press Association, and said l :— "We have seen the Anzacs in action on the west front, and have nothing hut praise for their bravery and initiative ; the German officers have unqualified admiration, for the Australians. Grown Prince R-upprecht, as a mountaineer, appreciated the colonials' contempt for obstacles, yet he said the recklessness of the colonials sometimes led to unnecessary losses. Whereas other troops utilised all available cover, the Australians charged in the open .indifferent, and 1 even contemptuous of danger. During,the advance at Loos, a; Bavarian general spoke with admiration of the perfection in every detail of the Australian plans for taking trenches."

V'on WeigaiwJ continued: "I met many' British prisoners at Guillemont and Tommies who "willingly sold me their helmets and other souvenirs. I noticed twenty or thirty aloof and contemptuously, refusing to sell anything; tliey were Australians. I did not see many Australians ill the prison camps. Prince TUipprecht asked one how ihe was faring:; lie 'replied: 'Not had; iT did not expect beefsteak daily!' "

Von Weigand considers the war will l-'st throughout 1917, and he believes the B'itish and 'French will make a. gigantic effort on the west front next spring. The Germans are planning most- extensive defences, and if the Allies have no success on the west they "'ill transfer the offensive to another fi 'ld. most probably the Balkans.