AUSTRALIA'S EPIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S EPIC.

CAPTURE OF PERONNE. FINEST FEAT OF THE WAR. London, Dec. 20. General Sir John Monash, in an additional instalment of his book, published ill .the .London Sunday .Times, describes the capture of Mont St. Quentih and Peronne as the finest examples in the war of spirited and successful infantry action. , . . . . The attacks were conducted by three entire divisions operating jointly and simultaneously. It. was essentially an infantry combat, tanks g and mobile and heavy artillery being unavailable. General Rawlinson was informed by telephone three hours' after the advance that the Australians had gained a foothold on Mont St. Quentin.. "General Rawlinson was at first totally incredulous," proceeds General Monash, "but he soon sent generous congratulatory messages, proclaiming the event as being cab ciliated to have an important influence on the immediate future course {if the war." Later General Rawlinson hailed the complete operation of the four epic days as the finest single feat of the war. . -

Defiling with.the unavoidable hastiness of the tactical plans, General Mpnash says: —"The. delay of a day or two in rushing Pe.rpime would have made its capture many times more costly. The .spoil L sense of the commanders obviated contusion, and the utmost advantage was taken of the chances offered. The men everywhere performed prodigies of valor- The storming of the mount enthralls the imagination and overshadows a )l el*<V . „Tt.is. impossible to begrudge the congratulations which ruined upon Mnjor-Genaral Sir Ohn.rles Rosenthal, 'the massive.man, whose build belies his extraordinary physical energy.' Tie is an egregious optimist incapable of realising the possibility of failure; hence his invariable- success." General Monash adds a. Vfirm tribute to Lient.-Ocncral Sir ,T. .T. Talbot Hohbs' judgment and swiftness in dealing with difficulties... , ~.,.., ....