“AUSSIES” AT THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 8

“AUSSIES” AT THE WAR.

PRAISE FROM ENGLISH SOLDIER.

“WORLD’S GREATEST FIGHTERS.”

By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright.

London, April 28. 'Major Neville Lytton, who was on the General Staff and was wounded ii| 1916, in a book entitled “The Press and the General Staff,” published to-day, tays: “The first time I saw the Australians in any numbers 1 was struck all of a heap by their astounding beauty of physique. They were just from the line and battle-stained. They had loose, lithe bodies and an expression of extreme cruelty, such as one sees on the faces of birds of prey. They never troubled to salute and addressed ine as ‘Mate/ They seemed to me frightfully efficient, never requiring orders, and knowing exactly what' to do.” Major Lytton expresses tremendous admiration for Mr. Bean, the Australian war correspondent, and wishes lecture associations would invite him to Britain to repeat the criticisms on British methods which he expressed to the author.

The Australians’ night counter-at-tack on Villiers-Brettoneux their battlefield discipline was absolutely perfect, whatever their billet discipline might be. x Even if the Australians-had achieved nothing else than the capture of Villiers-Bretonneux they would have won the right to be considered among the world’s greatest fighters. He agrees that the saving of Amiens was almost entirely due to the Australians’ superb fighting. “British officers told us discipline would win the war and that the Australians hadn’t any, but Australian soldiers made, rings round the best German troops owing to their perfect battlefield discipline, and the fact that their initiative has not been crushed by traditional servility.”

Referring to General Monash and the capture of Mont. St-. Quentin without artillery preparation, he describes it as a piece of amazing cheek, as incredible as its success. He says Mont St. Quentin ought to become the pilgrimage place for all visitors from the Commonwealth taking a pride in its own history.