FRENCH FAITH IN ANZACS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1918, Page 3

FRENCH FAITH IN ANZACS.

The following was cabled to the Sydney Sun from London on May 10: — Major Woodburn (of the Australian Comforts Fund), who was with the Australians throughout the offensive, interviewed in London, said that their achievements are ringing throughout the north of France. Even in the villages behind the war zone wometi and children recognise the uniform, and cry Les bons Australiens.''

"Civilians," Major Woodburn continued, "show amazing confidence that they will hold up the Boche. When they went in at the Somme many villages were deserted, but the day after the Australians arrived the civilians returned. The wife of a leading Bailleul merchant said that the civilians there were complacant until they saw the Australians going southward. Then they packed their belongings. The French Commission at Amiens proposed to sell the deserted merchandise. I offered to buy it for the comforts fund, but the Commission said 'No; we have decided not to sell now the Australians have arrived.'

The Australians' kindness to tbe afflicted civilians makes a moving picture. It is an ordinary sight to see a burly Australian carrying an old woman or furniture. The transport is sometimes devoted to the refugees. The children love the stalwart Anzac, and run beside him. In the village the Australians chop wood, help in the household, tend stock, and spend happy evenings in family circles. I am proud of Major Norris's work in trying to save the stores at Bailleul. Though gassed and voiceless for three days, he stayed under the shell-fire, and was amongst the last to leave. The Germans got nothing. In the three weeks moving from the north we distributed more stock than we lost at Bailleul."