SECOND TO NONE.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1210, 3 December 1919, Page 2

SECOND TO NONE.

Yanks Tribute to the Aussies. Discipline and Efficiency; Blamed for Other Misdeeds.

William T. Ellis-, the special correspondent oJi tho New Vork 'Herald,' thus sings the praises of the Australian sold km iu a recent issue oi* the American journal;—

The most important of sill the discovitk** of tlie last, five years-in Egypt and the entire Near East has been— Australia! Out here iu the old* si part "»' the world, amidst the ruins of successions cf ancient civilisations, this new nation has.fixed its place in modern history, arid established, i'or alt mankind's admiration, the character of its people. "Where Homer sang and nieopatra loved; where the Phanahs built, and -where tho Israelites wandered, there Australian and New Zealand soldiers have been, to erect foi themselves a reputation that lifts their land above its old designation as a place 01* kangaroos and emus and go'diiejds and sheep ranches. Australia lest cruelly of the flower of her youth at Gnllipoli; but she found her soul. National cons.jiousncss and solidarity, and a sense of fbe nation's mission among men, have been l"*ofn over here in the realms if the golden uge. Troy, Sparta. Greece. Rome, Judett, Egypt' have no coble r stories of valour and sublime Heroism t.i their credit than may be written of these young iriants from the unknown land beneath tho Southern LVuxs. Vaguely, the world has heard that the Anzacs—for when I write of Australians. I would include always their kindred New Zealtu'l jiiCsrattVs—--jV.'ugfe- fot»My"at Gallipoli and in Pa'es- .;«« dnd i" "Kfypt; when tho full ftory appears it will be a thrilling revelation. Jdo not know who will write tho book, unless it be Captain Bean, the official correspondent, but every intelligent American will want a eopy. Tales rrom Historic Boil.

Point for point, it will outmnun the classic tale*. What was Marathon compared with the ride of a wounded Australian, with one leg and one arm oft", on horseback, across forty .'dies of terrible desert? All the wounded in one Palestine battle got to medical aid only after this incredible experience. The public ha' heard whispers tf

'■•>w the Arabs of the Shcrecfton or Hejax forces capture,] Daniascu-j; lut it Joes not krov. that fho \ustraihu Light Horse*troopers had tb 0 city currounded, waiting for 'he Arabs to come up, because ordered to do tv>. In tho first battle of Cinzn —one of the mysterious disaKtcr." of the v.ar about which still further explaining will have to be done—the British no-ops were ordered to' retire, after tho city bud been surrounded ;ind tie victory had been practically won. A considerable force of the Australians retired right straight through the lily, -'oppicg within the wall.- for a rim?: That is typical of these 'wild An*trsJuass.' Thev prefer tho andacv.ouH deed. Nobody has t" urge then into action; but they are the very demons »0 hold back. During the C'u'io trouble.- an Australian private *.yih found, apparently intoxicated, cm a street corner in u dangerous iieisjbbourhocd.

•Mail, don't you knoxv you're liable to bo killed any minute. (.>eT, out cf hero quick;' cried an alarmed Dfli'.er. 'fell! That's till right. I'm only *.bo bait; there arc fifteen of my p;.is around the corner.' An Anzac lookg for trouble. .''fore than obco I have goeu otic of those tall fellows wade into the midst >. t :: s.eeno of excitement and straight-''i it out, while- more comentional soldiers wero looking ou fr-jDi the rim, -.vordering whether they should mix ':•.. The Soldier Who Daie M . Six troopships of Anzaes were H Port feaid when the Egyptian insurrection broke loose. Tiicir equipment, including horse- and urms, had Lc.n turned in. They were honi?.-,:;rd bound for demobilisation, Within tv.o days that foreo mu up und down the. railway lines at remote puwcr-hc« ixs, and scattering over the land, to put tho fear of law and order into the turbulent mobs. It would have fared ill with the British in Egypt had it not been fur tho presence of.these fearless and efficient men from over; seas with their genius for meeting 'emergencies.

To the Egyptian tho very name 'Australian' is a terror. llbre friendly to tho natives throughout thoir rejourn here than other soldiers, the Australian is swift and severe when action is needed. Indeed, this very ethcieney and nnconvontioaality of the Australian soon won him a reparation h-t tho hands of both British and Egyptians for disorder ami excesses. Ho was inudo tjio scapegoat, for ;:11 tho misdeeds of the trmy. Was a tillage burnt? The Australians did it—even though there were no AustraUa.ua within a hundred miles. 'Was in Egyptian held up and robbed? 'the Australians did it—ever, though the victim said the soldiers who attached him wore caps and not hats. Were thero disorders or other lawbroaldngf Tho Australiao* did it!

So far ns my own pei.iiDpal observation o"f the troubles in €airo went, the Australians were kept in better discipline: aud more closely under tie direction of their ofllcers than any other troops, oxecpt, possibly, the Indians. On certain notable occasions, v.heu I saw the soldiers looao the Australians were coospicucusly absent. There mist have been almost daily struggles between the General fc>;atf ond the Australian staff over tho lightly flung eharges. For your Anzac is nit the syrt of man to sit silent under undeserved imputations; and the officers, who hove all won their commissions inopen competition, and kept them because they are fit, stand by the men to-the limit. Australians may liuvo.'n democracy among thcmsQlves that horrifies a European officer; but it lias made a wonderful tinny, second 10 jione in the world} in."|rop6rti>u to its si/e,' . v ■■;.-- '; ■"---*:, •. ,

Australians and Americans. Two stories concerning Australian 1 ! have now an international vogue, The tirst is a favourite with the Australians. During the early fighting in Prance an English officer ' was asked about, the, Australian troops. 'Oh. they're very good soldiers in battle; they light jolly well. But they're socially impossible, you know.' The other story is current with il'e ■British and Americans. After lbs big push in Prance that brought the Americans into action an Australian officer who had been brigaded with the Yanks was asked by King George the rllprovalent question, 'How do the Americans light f 'Very well, your Majesty; but they are a bit rough.' Anybody whom tho Australians call rough may be writ ten down as in no wise, ladylike. As an important matter of history, it should be known .that tho Australians .and the Americans have a ; keen affinity for one another. Their antecedents and environments and spirit have taught them to think alike. Australians want, to go homo via America. I have been as surprised as plea.sed to lind the real eagerness of tho. Australian troop.-., from" 'the top to the bottom, to know America better. And assuredly it is the duty as well as- tho privilege of America to cultivate closer friendship with these congenial spirits far to the south-west of us, who are leading the way to the solution of problems kindred to both nations. Upstanding, outspoken, untoiventional, the Australian is himself alone. Only pioneer peoples liko the Canadians nnd Americans understand him —except the Scotch. Between the Tommy and the Anzac there is what Charles Lamb called 'impcrfeet sympathy,' but Jock is a man whom the Australian heartily likes. It is of more than passing interest that this war has discovered a real affinity between the Americans, the Canadians, the Australians, and the Scotch. It' Armageddon comes again, theso four will bo found standing together.

Stampeding the Cafe. Like all out-of-door men the Australians arc practical jokers. It was they who hung a nosebag on tho biy bronze horse which the effigy of Ibra bin Tasha bestrides in Opera Squ'ire, Cairo. During the early days of tho insurrection, when aeroplanes had put ti wholesome dread of punishment from tho skies into tho heart's of all rioters, and even Cairo was familiar with the sight of these low-flying policemen, :i typical Australian joke was played upen one of the popular cafes where efTcndis • gather. Two Australians stood in front, of the cafe, quickly gathering to themselves all eyes. One hold his watch in his hand; both scanned the air. For two or three minutes tho soldiers stood, alternately looking at tho watch and at the Heavens. Then, with a motion of decision and haste, they strode rapidly away.

Instantly the cafe customers, some with guilty consciences, suro that a bomb was to be dropped upon them, scampered away in panic, stumbling over one another and the tables and chairs in their mad hasto to get from under the expected uir raid. From across the street the Australians watched the success of their littlo joke laughing heartily the while. Australian's War Records.

All sorts of surprises, await one who is observing tho Australians. From n jiew country with a total population of but five millions one might reasonably expect only tie pioneer qualities, with edges a bit ragged—'diamond in the rough,' you know. Instead it is found that Australia hns developed scientific efficiency to a degree that suggests New York or Chicago rather than the wido spaces of this virgin land. War records of all sorts nr« k«pt by a card Index system with a completeness that delights an American. One may learn tho essential facts about any ono of Australia's SOO,OOO soldiers within a few minutes. How completely equipped the Australians have been, in essentials as well as- in such auxiliary matters as tho Y.M.C.A., nursing sisters, &c, is known to all who have come into touch with the Anzacs. They ar 0 also tho highest; paid saldiers in the war, a fact which has subjected the man to cruel exploitation by tho harpies of the great cities. .

The Australian*staff lias comple-red while awaiting . demobilisation an extraordinary set of maps and charts covering the position'of (ivory. Australian unit hi every section at eveiv stage of the fighting: Historians will not have to rely upon the time-dimmed recollection of .survivors for the record of Australian troops in the campaigns in Franco, Gajlipoli. and Palest inc. It is- all down in'print, on map and chart and strategical diagram. War colleges of the world will have a rare set of Australian documents to study That is a matter of technical interest. For the average person there sue, photographs and paintings, the .work of experts, covering every phase if Australia's activities in the Avar. Some of the most interesting pictures ctf the Holy Laud ever taken arc those made by the official Australian photographers. These are supplemented, in the case of Gallipoli and Egypt as well as Palestine, by .paintings" made of'the spot by officially appointed artists who are creating a,great Australian war gaMery—whieh,i it-is W. be hoped, will be sent on tour, through: Great Britain. Canada, and the United States ere-It settles down to its permanent in Australia. . ' •'

• What seemed humaidy' impossible ivtfs gloriously done by flßi Anz/j-Cg uf

Gallipoli and in, Palestine; their achievement has discovered Australia and New Zealand to themselves and to the world. Now we may expect from these returned soldiers, dauntless organauts as groat in spirit as in physical frame, a now world message in literature, art. prophecy, and starecraft Australia will be, heard from in tho to-morrow of Peace as she has been heard frornin the to-day of war.