ANZACS GO WEST!

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 30, 10 May 1916, Page 5

ANZACS GO WEST!

ARRSVAL IN FRANCE. i IN OCCUPATION OF TRENCHES. The High Commissioner reports:-—-London, May 8 (9.30 p.m.) The War Office announce that Australian and New Zealand troops hav; arrived in France and have taken over a portion of the front.

i IN NORTHERN FRANCE. VETERANS FROM GALLIPOLI /tNt EGYPT. "FRAYING AT THE BIT!" [Unitsih Press; Abbooiation.] London, May 8. Nearly half of the Australians and most of the New Zealanders who are on the West front have seen fighting at Anzac or in Western Egypt. Their losses at Gallipoli• were so heavy that in order to make up the full quota destined for Northern France, with adequate reserves,it was necessary to draw largely upon recent drafts from the 'Commonwealth and the Dominion.

J When the expedition was being arranged much anxiety was felt, some jof the regiments fearing a that they .would not go. Many men belonging to the Light Horse disowned their regiments, hoping to be drafted into the troops for France, as they did not want to stay behind. Nine hundred of the Light Horse volunteered for the infantry in a single day.' The last Australians left, carrying the Anzac Generals Birdwood and White.

VOYAGE WITHOUT INCIDENT. The voyage was practically without incident. Directly the men embarked they were supplied with lifebelts, which they wore all day. Boat drill was part of the routine and every man was allotted to his station. The navigation officers had several anxious hours ? bu-. the men were unaware of the proximity of deadly submarines. . .■-.■;.. Several false alarms .were, sounded to test the•' efficiency -*viid - 'Safety" of»-the arrangements, and the troops were required to stand by the boats, but the whole body'was 'transferred Without a single-mishap: there ; were <a'' < few case;* of sickness r bn ; the &'*# day bf'tK* trip. •- ■-' " J '-'■ ■'- ■ J '''-' f '■• " i "SEE TO THIS, BOYS!" GENERAL BIRDWOOD'S SPIRITED APPEAL. At a meeting arranged on a troopship, General Birdwood addressed 351)0 men, and a printed copy has been distributed to every member of the force, together with the text of Lord Kitchener's message to the Expeditionary Force, in August, 1914. General Birdwood urged the Anzacs to live up to thejr idea], 4 and then, proceeded :

"You have made for yourselves a national reputation as good fighters, which has earned the esteem of the comrades alongside whom you will soon be fighting. You have two importan qualities, the fighting spirit and train ing v , but third quality is discipline This/ fe.essefti&al to &cSejssj anaTjsitl t greatest of "the three. Without it, th best fighting troops in the world woul< fail to achieve success. You will br faced with temptations in France, bo cause you- will probably be billeted i» densely-populated villages. Drink will I fear, be obtainable in the villages; which are mostly full women ami children, whose fathers, husbands, ami brothers are fighting for their countn against our common enemy. "I.haye not the slightest doubt tha' you will respect the women, because you well know how repugnant the ide: of an offence against defenceless womei is to every Australian aiid New Zea lander. Against drink, I wish particr. larly to wain you. 1 implore you t< oake hold of yourselves, and, in even caso, for every u-.:-'i to absolutely makv up his mind to determine for himseb chat he won't give way thereto, remem bering that the honor of Australia oi N T ew Zealand is in his keeping. "You know I am referring to a very small proportion. The great majority of you don't want such warning, am. I earnestly beg them to do all in then power to look after their comrades no; naving the same strength of mind. Hemember, a few black sheep can give a oad name to the whole flock. "Let us make up our minds that tho Australian and New Zealand forces are going to prove themselves second to none in discipline, as already they have done where sheer hard lighting wa> concerned. See to this, boys. You know you are capable of it, and if you do it, you will return to Australia and Now Zealand after peace and victory, with an unsullied reputation which will go down for all times in your homes."

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Fur Peesr Association. Wellington, May 7. His Excellency the Governor received a telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies this morning, giving authority to announce that Australian and New Zealand troops have arrived in Franco, and have taken over portion of the British front. As it will he necessary to forward for the men in the firing line comforts provided by the women of New Zealand, through her Excellency's organisation, and for Red Cross goods to reach whatever destination may be necessary under the altered conditions, the Governor is taking steps to obtain the requisite information, which will he made public as soon as possible, though some little time is bound to elapse ow[ini? to the difficulties of arranging for [transit, and ascertaining ,hc quantities 'which will be required.

FROM SHIP TO SHORE.

<B ~fiOD DAY V 1 ANZACS WARMLY WELCOMED BY FRENCH PEtfPLE. OFF TO THE TRENCHES. A VERY WET HOMi£ IN THE WEST! THE GERMANS' (LITTLE JOKE. WELCOME TO AUSTRALIANS!" (Received 9 a.m.) London, May 9. The arrangements for the disembark-

ation and entraining of the Anzas were excellent, British landing officers and military police superintending the transfer of the men from the ships to the trains.

Some amusement was caused on the arrival of the first transport at the quay, as the troops long accustomed to greet the Natives in Egypt, shouted "Good day!" in Arabic. The Frenchmen, not understanding, shook their heads. Then somebody aboard shouted "Vive la France!" The cry was taken up by thousands of soldiers, and there was much cheering ashore. The town was beflagged and the populace crowded the streets, women -.ffering flowers and manifesting their delight, which was equal to that shown )ii the arrival of the Indians in 1914. The Australasians. areM of' fine«physijue and made! ft great'-impression on the French people as they marched hrough the cobbled streets. When entrained, their destination, was a profound secret; even the' transpott officers did.not know whither the trains were going. Some of the troops accomplished the journey while a very force blizzard raged,, .but the' earliest irrivals at the British'front Were quartered in tents during the blizzard, .vhich lasted the whole night and blew iown the whole cantonments. The men uttered no complaint, but crawled into he dugouts and billets and shared bhem with their British comrades.

Many Australians felt the cold keenly. Some had. fortunately, secured two blankets before leaving Egypt, though the regulations only provided one. The British authorities thoughtfully distributed one thousand,, ptrirS* 'of mUtenS; The moment the men .entered the section of the front 1 fine' trenches, the Grehnans opposite helcTup a banner inscribed : "Welcome to Australians!" i '• nW$iV& M i'■■- ;.. ;! JtfrtfiiV. : ENGLISH PRESS COMMENT. out' Ftiß RECORDS. " 3I (Received 8:45 a..ni.) ' London, May 9. newsnapera welpprhe the Anzacs' mjiva] oh the Western front.' The Pall Mall Gazette says: "We know the Anzacs are in the very van of the Empire's resources, and are ready, like the Canadians at Ypres, to establish records for dash and endurance. W 4 aStegofcdUtfck.'.' -* •

A BE LATE© MESSAGE. HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION. ECYPT AS A BASE S-03 THE ANZACS. i MUCH-VEXED QUESTION. (Received 9.15 a-.ni.) •> \ / \ The following] dated London, 'April Ith, on the proposal to evacuate the Australians and New Zealanders' via to Egypt is exciting much ■omment:— Official medical opinion sharply eriti■ises the proposal, which entails the scrapping of the whole hospital organisation built up for eighteen months. It is understood the War Office say they vant all the hospitals in Britain for ;he Britishers. If this be a fact, it is lifficult to see what Australia and New Zealand can answer. The scheme is msed on the desirability i Of taking ..roops away in the direction of theii' >wn country. Critics have, no fault to ind with the proposed camps at Mareilles. The site is excellent, and the Id Indian buildings afford comfortable luarters foj' the officers and nurses and or store rooms, while the centre camp s occupied by tents and other equipnent. It is suggested. tha,t Harefield night be converted into a hospital for .he serious cases, utilising Epsom for onvalescents. In an emergency many \nglo-Australians receive .convalescents n private houses, which practice is mpossible in Marseilles. Critics invest ,he value of a visit to the Old Country nth assisting recruiting, the Australians and New Zealanders regarding ;heir furlough in London as some reoinpense for their wounds. It is believed that the Australian Government doubts the wisdom of the hange, and Mr Hughes strongly opposes it, while the attitude of the New Zealand Government has not been repealed.

Unofficial New Zealand opinion, in■luding the Anzac convalescents, believe it will not give some of the wounled a fair chance of recovery. Doctors md nurses with Egyptian experience state that often it is so undesirable to operate in Egypt during the summer chat patients are sent to Italy f so difficult is it to ensure sufficiently good lospial food, especially eggs, and that She climate of the entire Mediterranean region is undesirable in summer, especially for South Australians, Tasmanians, and New Zealanders. Probably, the best solution of the difficulty will lie to utilise two hospitals at Marseilles for the woundd needing a warm climate, including lung cases, of which there is a larger number than might have been expected, and to send the other Anzaes to England. The following, dated London, April 15 is now released : No decision has yot been reached regarding the Australians, but some ■oncern is felt for the New- Zealanders' decision in favor of Egypt. Medicals deprecate the change, and declare that Egypt is suitable for a few .special [cases while they favor England for the

majority of the cases. When the New Zealanders learn that there is a bkeiihood of the \.. . "led tfoing to Egypt they will share their officers' keen disappointment. The New Zealand War Contingent Association warmly protested, and many cables have alreach been sent urging New Zealand to reconsider its decision so as to ensure uniformity in the Australian and New Zealand arrangements. . When the troops are fighting side by side, the difficulties of transport are likely to Increase. j it is understood that the possibility 'of hospitalling the entire English \vounded from the West front in France jis under consideration. j It is an immense problem, in which ■the Australians and New Zealanders 'are a comparatively small number f and 'the welfare of the British Army must, be the guiding factor, but the Australians and New Zealanders in England, including the highest officers, hope it will still be found practicable to bring the wounded to England.