AUSTRALIAN TROOPERS AT THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 51, 1 March 1901, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TROOPERS AT THE WAR.

The recrudescence of the war in its acuter aspects and .the vigorous call to arms throughout the country is naturally the principal topic of conversation everywhere this week. Earl .Roberts, did not stop all dinners and complinienty to himself a moment too soon. People had already begun to growl that London's, much too previous. C.1.V., liuller and lioberts festivities had made us ridiculous abroad, and not even the popularity of "Hobs" would have endured another city function. Fortunaitely the General saw this himself, and the good taste of the language in which he firmly declined ami declines all junketing at present leaves nothing to be desired. As for the war itself the daily tale of tips and downs and the simply appalling casualty lists make one sick. Private letters say enteric has broken out again virulently, and that our worn out soldiers have no physique to stand against it. Most of them are simply squealing for home. 1 saw a. note yesterday from a young Australian at the front! one of the gallant Cornstalks whom Lord Kitchener vows are "simply invaluable." He says in effect, "I've done my fair share and now I want to get home. I've seen sights of horror this last year that have made me an old man before my time, and I've done deeds—under the pressure of glorious war—that I shudder to recollect. At first campaigning was good fun enough, but now what with bad food and over-work, I'm dead stale, and I want home, mother, meals, and

i. stiff nobbier of Johnny Walker."'