THE ANZACS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1916, Page 5

THE ANZACS.

MEN QUITE HAPPY. FLANDERS BETTER THAN GALLIPOLI. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, May 11. _ Another batch of Anzacs have arrived m London. Their cheery, optimistic self-confidence is noteworthy. All agree they are happily conditioned' in Flanders. The Flemings are kindly, but rapacious. The conditions are infinitely better than at GallipoJi, there being excellent food, good soft bread and stews dailv. Their trench equipment includes thigh boots and helmets, and many carry tri-lingual dictionaries and hope to use the German section later.

The men declare that the machineguns recently caught a German detachment in the open road. Airmen reported that the shooting of the Australasians was excellent, and it is believed that their artillery was effective during the attack.

The Anzacs are specially interested in the British anti-aircraft shooting. They state that one gunner has repulsed scores of German machines.

Several units were eaot of the Suez Canal, awaiting the Turks, when the order came for France. A REST CURE. FOR "THE SCUM OP THE EARTH." j GUNNING THE HUNS. • London, May 11. Though London is accustomed to the Anzacs it is a novelty to see them with full kit fresh from ' the trenches with mud caking their puttees. Some arrive at Victoria station almost daily and are delighted with the change from Gallipoli. France is like home, and the fighting like a picnic compared with Gallipoli. They are delighted, with the excellent organisation, especially' with the . commissariat daily, instead of hread, water and bully-beef. The Prussians recently, after hoisting boards calling the Anzacs "scum of the earth," attacked the trenches and were driven back, to the evident satisfaction of the Saxons, who replaced the Prussian:; and hoisted a board with the notice "The scum of the earth have 'beaten the Prussians." The Anzacs are very proud of their splendid <nins. The Germans attempted an attack at night, but the guns immediately got the range and Mattered the German trenches, preventing an infantry attack, German signals for the ambulance proved the guns had done good work. The Anzacs cheered every signal. The German shell fire is heavier than that of the Turks, but the Anzacs declare that France hitherto has been comparatively a rest cure, as they are not exposed every minute of the day and night, on and off duty, to shells and snipers. The Anzacs toll a story of a ploughman with white horses. ' They believed the ploughman to be a spy who ploughed where the Germans ought to shell. The Anzacs went out at night and painted fhe horses red and brown.

THEIR HIGH SPIRITS. A GOOD TIME LN LONDON. Time 9 and Sydney Sun Services. May 12, 5.10 p.m. London, May 11. • The Anzac equipment is likely to undergo a change, and the "smasher" tunics will disappear. Some of the men have already received "Tommy" clothes and gumboots, which are greatly appreciated, not only owing to the Flanders n-.ud, but they are also useful to cook dinners in.

It is difficult to improve on the high spirits of the men on furlough, who have intentions of making the best of their stay in London. The reception preparations hare been improved, and charabancs provided to drive ithem to their sleeping quarters, instead of expensive taxieaibs. Several hundred theatre tickets or-, distributed daily at the Anzac Bufl'at, where the inquiry bureau gives advice of the conditions of lodgings in all cities in England-

THE AVENGERS. FORMATION OF AN ANZAC ARMY. The Evening Standard, in publishing an article headed, "The Anzac as a Tighter. How will he fare in France?" stresses the fact that the Turks feared the Anzaes more than any other soldiers, bcest-use of their dogged deter-n-.inatioa, which was backed by a cool, clear brain. Britishers fight because th'ir King and country called; the Australasiaas light in a different spirit, with a grim, relentless ferocity, ever thinking of their dead companions, whoa they fought with fury to avenge. The article endorses the suggestion of the formation of an Anzac Army, under command of General Birdwood. The paper describes it as a happy idea, which would fire Australia and New Zealand to the utmost enthusiasm, READY FOR ANYTHING. MAORILANDERS CONFIDENT. Received May 12, 8.40 p.m. London, May 12. The New Zealanders, who were the last anrivals in France, entered the front trenches at an important point on the British front a few days ago, being well supported by artillery. They have only had minor bouts with the Germans, and expect, ns they are new to this type of fighting, to be favored with some special German "frightfulness," but they are prepared for any emergency. A New Zealander s who is on furlough, said: "We shall be all right. ' If you hear the Germans have captured any blank town you wiH know that all the New Zealanders have been taken pri-

A WELCOME CHANGE. , DKPATCJT PROM MR. MALCOLM JROSS. The following special message has been received from the New Zealand war correspondent (Mr. Malcolm Boss): Headquarters (France), May 7. "Not long ago, when the German Chancellor was stating in the Reichstag (April 5) that the Dardanelles undertaking was a failure, he little dreamt that the Anzac Army Corps had already landed in France, well equipped, and in the pink of condition, and eager for their first clash of arms with the real enemy. Yet such was the case. Even while he was speaking, men from the Ist Battalion were marching to the front line.

"All along the route from the port of disembarkation the Anzacs received a cordial welcome from the French people. Women from the Bed Cross and others met them at wayside stations with coffee, cakes, and fruit. From the dripping dug-outs of Gallipoli and the hot wind-swept sands of Egypt to the comfortable billets and the springtime rural scenes of France is a great but delightful change, and the troops are'thoroughly interested in their new surroundings. Their behaviour so far has been highly satisfactory. Billeted in villages and farmhouses, they quickly got on friendly terms with the people; and it is no uncommon sight to see some big overseas warrior nursing a baby, or with one or two peasant youngsters marching proudly by his side.

"All the arrangements made by the British army worked excellently, and both officers and men are loud in their praise of them. On all hands the British and overseas troops are fraternising. Everything augurs well for a successful campaign.

"The French people are woiiaerfully calm and optimistic, and consider; that the Germans are already beaten, though none can predict when the end will come.'' STRENGTH OP OUR FORCES. EGYPT BASE TO BE MAINTAINED. (From Our Own Correspondent). . Wellington, May 10. New Zealand people would foe keenly interested in knowing just what forces are representing them on the Western front, but apparently the publication of details are not admissible at the present time. The creation of a New Zealand Infantry Division, by the use of accumulated reinforcements, was announced by the Minister for Defence a month or two ago, and it is no secret that the New Zealand Artillery is very much stronger than when the Main Body left this country. Artillery reinforcements bave been used to man additional batteries provided by the Imperial authorities. The Infantry Division contains about 20,000 men, and in addition there is the Mounted Rifle Brigade and various other units. Mounted men, as far as the published information goes, are not being used upon the Western front at the present time. Perhaps when detailed information is available for publication it will show that the Infantry Division and the Artillery have gone to France and that the Mounted Brigade remains in Egypt. The Infantry Division, the Artillery Brigade and the Mounted Rifle Brigade do not absorb all the men despatched from New Zealand for these branches, even when allowance has been made forthe casualties and wastage. 1/ater reinforcements constitute reserves, and though no official figures are available, it is easy to calculate that these reserves must be substantial. Their rate of growth, or diminution, in the future will depend upon the casualty rate at the Western front, or any other point where New Zealand troops may be engaged.J The expectation in military circles that the casualty rate in France will not reach the very big proportions attained in Galliipoli, where the conditions were peculiarly severe and where even Blightly wounded or slightly sick men 4 had to be evacuated.

The Minister for Defence (Hon, J. Allen) stated this evening in answer to a question on the subject that the New Zealand base in Egypt would be maintained. He thought it likely that there would be a supplementary base in the United Kingdom. The transfer of New Zealand troops to the Western front need not involve any substantial alteration of the existing arrangements with regard to the transport service, or add to the difficulties of the Defence Department in that respect. The Minister added that information was being obtained regarding possible alterations in the postal and telegraph arrangements relating to the New Zealand troops. In the meantime people could safely continue to use the base in Egypt in the old way. Any alteration that might be made later would be made public at the earliest opportunity.