KITCHENER AT ANZAC.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1915, Page 4

KITCHENER AT ANZAC.

FORCES TAKEN BY SURPRISE. (By Uplain C. E. W. Bean, Official Prea» Representative with the Common* wealth ExpeditUnal Forces). Gaba Tepe, November —. Earl Kitchener visited Anzac to-daji Very few even of the senior officers had any previous knowledge of his visit, hub the moment he stepped ashore the men tumbled to it, and a remarkable scene occurred. How the knowledge couldspread so fast I do not know, but by the time Earl Kitchener had reached the end of the pier the men were tumbling like rabbits out of every dug-out on thai hillside, jumping over obstacles straight for the beach. Australians do not cheer readily; but as Earl Kitchener, accompanied by Generals Birdwood, Maxwell and others passed by the crowd along the beach, the .men spontaneously called for cheers, and g(FWS them again and again, it was purely a soldiers' welcome.

Without any pause, Earl Kitchener walked straight up the steepest road in the Anzac area direct from the beach to the highest point in the old Anzac area. You can follow is windings from the beach, and in less than ten minutes you could see a tall 'figure stalking by the side of a little figure, which all Ansae knows so well, right at the top of the* steep ascent. Most persons arrive, at that summit breathless, and most certainly expect a respite on the way. bat Earl kitchener went straight up without a halt, and, arriving at the top, immediately spoke to the Brigadier* assembled there.

Without pausing for breath to stop he went through to the front firing trench on the neck where the Light iHorso charged. The troops could scarcely, restrain from cheering him, although the Turks in places were within 20 yards. The Anzac staff had seme moments ol . considerable anxiety as the tall head, with the staff officer's! caj, went stalk* ing down certain awkward corners, where he was all too visible to the Turkish snipers. He constantly spoke to the men. Australian soldiers, fortunately, > generally manage to keep their heads on these occasions.

Passing a small canteen, which wa» carried on under the greatest difficulties a by the splendid efforts of the Sydney; ' Y.M.C.A., and has been of great help to the 'British as well as the Australian troops, he asked one private standing near, "Hallo t a Y.M.C.A. here Is there! What can you get there?" "Nuts," answered the'man laconically. "Yes, but I mean what can you get there generally?" repeated Earl Kitchener. "Nothing," said the man. Earl Kitchener burst into a laugh, and passed on. H«f surveyed the whole ef the old Anzac fV sition from a good look-out point. Those with him noticed his quick grasp of the' country. He left Ansae two hour* alter arriving, having sceen almost every important officer, and taken a thorough look at the position. As he was leaving he called up one of thirty or forty officers to whom he had been speaking during his visit. "Well,#So-and-So," lie said, addressing this officer, a medical authority, by name, "I think I can promiie you your first and your second request, and we will see about the third."