THE ANZACS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1916, Page 5

THE ANZACS.

THEIR LANDING IN FRANCE. A WARM WELCOME. GO TO THE FRONT IN BAD WEATHER. London, May 9. Arrangements for the disembarkation and entraining of the Anzacs were excellent, British lafiding 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. The troops, who had long been accustomed to greet the natives of Egypt, shouted good-day in Arabic. The Frenchmen, not understanding, shook their heads. Then somebody on board shouted "Vive La France," and the cry was taken up by thousands of soldiers. There was much cheering ashore, the town was beflagged, and the populace crowded the streets, the women offering flowers and manifesting a delight equal to that shown on the arrival of the Indians in 1914. The Australasians' fine physique made a great impression on French people as they inarched through the cobS'led streets. _ When they entrained, their destination was a profound secret, even the transport officers did not know whither tho trains were going. Some troops accomplished the journey while a most fierce blizzard raged. 'A BITTER EXPERIENCE. WELCOME FROM THE GERMANS. The earliest arrivals at the British front were quartered in tents during the blizzard, which lasted the whole night and blew down the whole cantonment. The men uttered no complaints, but crawled into dugouts and billets and shared them with their British comrades. Many Australians felt the cold keenly. Some fortunately secured two blankets before leaving Egypt, though the regulations only provide for one. The British authorities thoughtfully distributed a thousand pairs of mittens. The moment the men entered the front line trenches the Germans opposite dield up a banner inscribed "Welcome to the Australians." GOOD WISHES FROM THE (PRESS. London, May 9. Newspapers welcome the Anzacs' arrival on the western front. The Pall Mall Gazette says: "We know the Anzacs are in the very van of the Empire's resources and ready, like the Canadians at Ypres, to establish records for dash an*> endurance. We wish them all goodj y

ANXIOUS FOR THE FRAY. THE MEN IN THE TRENCHES. FRENCH AND CANADIANS DELIGHTED. BOCHES HAVE TESTED THEIR QUALITY. London, May !). A correspondent at British, headquarters says that hitherto there was a possibility tliat the Germans did not know that the Australasians were on the western front, so the General Staff had taken no risks of announcing the facts. 6 The Boche3 have now, however, tested their quality. They have drawn a surfeit of eulogy from the French people with whom they are billeted. The Canadians are also delighted to be fighting alongside the Anzacs. The Australasians arl gratified to be in France. Anzac was a few hundred acres of potted Hades, and there was no getting away from the eternal rattle of war, sand, flies, heat and dysentery, but the western front was the goal of their desire. They talk about the great offensive and they want to get on with it. Officers give lectures pointing out the strategic plans, which will involve much time.

THEIR BAPTISM IN FRANCE. terrific shelling. "WHEN THE ANZACS GET LOOSE!" Times and Sydney; Sun Services, Received May 10, 5.5 p.m. London, May 9. The Anzac Corps is now composed of New Zealanders and Australians, under the command of a senior Australian officer in France. The men in London speak cheerfully concerning the conditions in France, while admitting that the shelling was heavier thaD anything they had encountered at Gallipoli, but the long spells in the billets behind the trenches relieve the strain. Officers and men are eager for raiding, and cutting-out expeditions which, as the troops settle down, will relieve the monotony of trench life. The men's work so far has been almost solely in supporting the trenches. A man of the Second Division, writing to London, says that the Division is confident that it will make a hole somewhere when it gets loose. ANZAC FOR ALWAYS. The name of "Anzac" will be retained for the Australasian army, and General Birdwood's quarters are officially called the "Anzac Headquarters." A soldier on furlough says that the Australasians' first real action in France took place on Friday. The enemy raided the trenches after bombarding them, but were immediately driven out. Friday afternoon was calm on the Australian front, but in the evening several batteries terrifically bombarded a sixty yards' front, more intense than anything they had experienced at Gallipoli. The ground rocked from the concussion of various calibre high explosives, and then shrapnel. The Australasians were ordered to withdraw to the support trenches, and then a hundred Germans rushed the trench, only thirty reaching it, the rest being mown down bv flanking machineCunt.