“BIRDIE” ON THE ANZACS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1643, 28 November 1916, Page 4

“BIRDIE” ON THE ANZACS.

General Birdwood, in the course of a letter to Mrs 8. A. Nome, of Rose Bay, Sydney, in which ho acknowledges receipt, of a scarf knitted by a number of Sydney ladies, says: “I see among the names of the ladies who so kindly co-operat-ed in the making of the scarf many that are identical with the names of ray men here, and I much like to think and hope that some, at all events, may be near relatives of the magnificent men 1 have with me. Mo words of mine can express the feelings for one and all of them, and as days go by and we serve longer together, and we get to know each other so very well, 1 personally become more devoted to them than ever, and my great regret is that one is able to do so little for them in return for all their magnificent, unselfish, and devoted service. If all at home could only see the conditions under which our men live from day to day and from night to night, they would realise (lie amount of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty that is required to maintain the cheerful and determined front, and which 1 well know they will continue to uphold until we have finally defeated these Germans.”

Some humorous siories arc related about the referendum campaign in Australia, aral one of the best comes from Melbourne. A well-known doctor wa.s addressing a crowd on the Yarra bank. He was a strenuous anli-eunseriptioii-ist, and the crowd seemed to be in sympathy with the views he expressed. The weather was exceptionally cold and wet, and the doctor concluded his remarks with a little professional advice that would help the crowd to overcome the effect of the bitter weal Iter, “(io home," he said, “and put your feet in warm water.’’ The pro-conscriplionists who were; present pul a construction on the words which was probably far from the speaker’s intention, and the story is now frequently told as if there were significance in the innocent remarks. It is also said that the Ifon. H. Jackson (Commissioner of Public Works), when addressing a meeting in the north, was treated to an insistent stamping on the floor. Air Jackson looked round the room with great good humour, and. with a. smile, said, “I begin to understand my audience. Stamping on the ground warms the feel." Even his opponents appreciated the humour of the remark. Still another story is told, this lime against the affirmative side. It is said that two prominent ladies visited a big factory in the city in order to advocate national service. The girls would have none of their speeches, however, and it is declared that the ladies were unceremoniously and actually swept out of the room with brooms, notwithstanding their protests that they were prepared to go without that sort of persuasion.