"BEST IN WORLD"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 80, 5 April 1943, Page 2

"BEST IN WORLD"

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS

, TANK OFFICER'S TRIBUTE (0.c.) SYDNEY, April 2. At a mayoral reception to him at the Town Hall yesterday, preliminary to the march through the city, scheduled for to-day, of the famous Ninth Division of the A.1.F.; its commander, Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Morshead, read out what he described as the finest tribute to Australians he had found. The tribute was a letter written by- a British Tank Corps officer during heavy fighting in the Western Desert. It was:

Most things one hears of the Australians when they are bored, or on leave, are probably true. Two or three of them gathered together to enjoy themselves are a considerable menace. But meet a lone Australian on a railway journey, and you will probably like him at once. "Be associated with an Australian formation in action . . . They are not merely fierce fighters, though they are all that, but they lay a show on, think of all the snags, and carry it off in a way that convinces me that they are the best fighting troops in the world.

"As regards discipline in the field, that also is excellent. They obey orders correctly . . They are respectful to seniority, they maintain their "vehicles and weapons very much better than most. Their discipline under fire is immense. If they have these qualities, it occurs to one that it does not matter a lot if they shave irregularly, and like to go about their duties wearing underpants and no trousers. Perhaps the Aussies' most striking characteristics are intense practicability and genius for friendly co-operation"