GATHERING OF NATIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 8 November 1916, Page 2

GATHERING OF NATIONS.

NEW TROOPS AT SALONIKA. ■*., RUSSIANS AND ITALIANS. ! On the front from the Caucasus to Champagne, in every area of the Allied operations save one, the Russian uniform is now to be seen (Mr G. Ward wrote on July 30), for this afternoon the first of the Russian contingent that is to fight side by side with the British, French and Servians in the Bal- J kans, landed at Salonika. i The solemn tones of the Russian National Anthem were rolled out from the bands as the tender came alongside the quay, and then one saw that the motionless figures, standing at the salute, which packed her decks were indeed ] those which the pictures have made familiar since the war began, but which most of the Salonika force saw to-day for the first time. The fine build of the men struck one immediately. When j the men were drawn up, with their young, active-looking general at their head, with bayonets fixed and the white and gold standard unfurled, their qua- j lity was even more apparent. Splendid j “troupes do choc,.” a French officer! called them, and indeed a charge by j that line of long bayonets, each with j the momentum of its 13-st owner be- I hind it, must be a very formidable thing I of its kind. ; General Sarrail, looking a figure to I delight a military painter, strode to the front of the troops, and, waving his gold-laced cap above his head, shouted a greeting to them in Russian. With the precision of drill, the soldiers answered with a deep bass shout, and then, after an inspection, the march past along the quay, which is the chief promenade of Salonika, began. Their martial bearing impressed the Greek emulation as much as it had struck , ex, fer in',si of those Russians j had already seen fighting on the Rus- • siuu frbnt, as is shown by the medals j won for gallantry on the field which i not a few of them wear. ! Italian troops arrived at Salonika on i August 10. The ceremonial reception j of the Italians was very like that used for the Russians. But especial dignity was added to the occasion by General Sarrail having decided to combine with it the solemnity of bestowing the Legion of Honour on five French officers. For this General Sarrail arrived on horseback, followed by his staff. With stars glittering on Ids breast, he was a most brilliant and knightly figure. General Cordonnier, the new commander of the French army under the generalissimo. was with him. When that was over, the march past of the Italians began, before General Sarrail and their general, Petit! de Roreto. One thing that caught the eye was that many of the regimental colours carried past had bullet-holes, which told of their earlier eperience on the Isonzo or in , the Trentino. The news of the fail of Gorizia arriving the same day gave special flavour to these martial doings, and many shouts of “Viva Italia!” met the little men as they stepped alertly out for the first time along the uneven highways of this ill-naved town.