BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 September 1918, Page 5

BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED.

. AUSTRALIANS AT HOME. PLEA TO THEIR" COUNTRYMEN. LONDON, August 30. Describing a visit to the Australian camp at Salisbury Plain, Mr. H. Campbell-Jones, a member of the Australian press delegation, says it is really a collection of Australian villages ,each with a population of several thousands, who are well housed, splendidly governed, and equipped in every essential. The whole course of training Is skilfully efficient, and absolutely realistic. Whereas it took six months to train men two years ago, 10 w r eeks now suffice, and they reach the front better fitted for individual and collective movements, and keener. The officers, while maintaining the necessary discipline, enter thoroughly into the men’s lives, and there is a perfect camaraderie. The impression left on a visitor’s mind is that the amazing work on this side is not properly forwarded to Australia. If it w r ere, Australia would have the immense majority of the repatriated men restored to sound bodily and mental health in a comparatively short time.

Meanwhile the men at Salisbury who have been five, six, and even seven times wounded, are returning to the front, because the reservoir for what is freely admllced to be the first army in Europe is steadily drying. Because the men in Australia tarry, Australians who have been in the hospital seven times have to face the guns again. They do not complain, but their wistful eyes and grim jaws tell of their bitter disillusion.