WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 281, 6 May 1915, Page 6

WAR NOTES.

THE DARDANELLES FORCE. All eyes in New Zealand are now focussed upon the Dardanelles, where the New Zealanders have already distinguished themselves. Recent messages from Cairo revealed General Sir lan Hamilton as commander-in-chief ef the Dardanelles expeditionary force, and stated that of all the wonderful happenings that had taken place in Egypt none were more noteworthy than the landing of the French troops at Alexandria. Referring to the matter after the arrival of the French, a correspondent said: "The place now bears the unusual appearance of a French garrison town. There are Frenchmen everywhere, officers dashing through the streets in automobiles, and picturesque chasseurs galloping with despatches. Two hotels have been converted into a headquarters hospital, while British doctors have pegged out a camp stretching miles castward of Alexandria, near the historic ground of Aboukir and Canopus. where the Napoleonic invasion was, and where the British defeated their present lAliica. There are many colonials, including Senegalese, who fought at the battle of the Manic. They are.coal-black giants, fit for anything. Earlier it was said that the, troops ..wore. ;a .scratch collection, and compared' unfavorably' with the British. But there were no grounds for complaint or for adterse comparison when they were paraded before Ccncra 1 * Sir lan Hamilton. He reviewed them in the desert on a vast plateau surrounded by sand dunes,.. The regiments marched past steadily, manfully ploughing their way through the soft sand. It was a picturesque and inspiring sight. Addressing them, 'Sir lan Hamilton said that Frenchmen ought to be proud of their nationality 'when thoir country possessed such troops. General d'Amade, who is in charge of the' French force, addressed Sir lan as 'my chief,' and remarked Wiat the French tro.ops were fraternising with the population, and that their behaviour was exemplary."