ALLIES AT SALONICA.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15488, 15 January 1916, Page 4

ALLIES AT SALONICA.

FBENCB HELMETS USED. AVIATION CORPS. (From ilie Special Correspondent of tiie Melbourne "Argus.") SALONICA, November 12. All the Allied troops disembarked at Salonica to date are war veterans. The Irish Division took part in the landing at Suvla Bay, in Gallipoli, and the French are direct from the trenches of Alsace. Practically tho whole of the Entente force is made up of men above the average stature, and our own troops are not by any means the smallest in physique. The French appear to be particularly big, tho effect being somewhat exaggerated by their loose clothes. Those who saw the '"Corps Expeditionaire en Orient" at Cape Helles were inclined to form the opinion that these represented tho best class of French fighting men, but tho troops who have assembled at Salonica arc of quite a different type—stronger, more vigorous, better trained, and much v>'n-o forceful. Many of tho men stand over 6ft high, and are broad in proportion, tho average weight of the soldiers in tho infantry units being well over list.

In the ranks conscripts from every walk of life are to bo found, business men, artisans, representatives of the professions, artists, writers, labourers, and clergymen rubbing shoulders on parade, while tho officers are not always drafted from the best social positions in private life. In this there is some point of resemblance to the composition of our own fighting units, but in tho French Army the spirit of democracy is even more marked. Beards are fashionable with all ranks, and a clean-shaven faco is as odd as a moustache on an Australian artilleryman. They aro a jolly lot of smiling fellows, a/nvays ready for a joke and a flirtation when off duty, but in deadly earnest, when work is in front of them. For weeks the streets of Salonica have been crowdcd with Frenchmen in their new uniforms of navy blue, wearing huge overcoats of the same colour, with numbers on the collars, which are turned up about their ears. ' The German tvue of top-boot has been adopted for the whole force, and as a result the men were able to wade through the ooze of tho miscalled roads without suffering any great inconvenience, wlu'lo kilning dry feet. The French influence lias becomo so pronounced that all transactions arc now carried out in Salonica by calling tho Grecian lepta a centimc and the drachma a franc. All tho French troops wear the new "casque d'Adrien" — steel helmet that has proved an effective protection against sliraunel and bullet wounds in tho head. The casque is much heavier than a cap, but not inconveniently weighty, and certainly it adds to the smart appearance "of the men. They arc painted tho same blue a$ tho uniforms, in heat-resisting colours, and tho interior is well padded. Among the troops at Salonica there were many who would have been either beneath tho ground or in hospital but for tho protection of this head-dress. Some of the helmets had bullet holes through them, but the owners explained tWt tho force of tho blow had been so effectively absorbed by the metal, that tho missile was found resting harmlessly inside. A great many more casques had depressions in them where stray shots had struck, any one of which in the ordinary course would have . been sufficient to place a man out of action, if it did not kill him. The troons arc verv nroud of their battered helmets, and they will not lay them down out of reach for an instant, for fear of the souvenir hunter. Some of tho Frenchmen did lose their cosqucs, but'it was not for want of watchfulness.

All tho French troopships aro convoyed by destroyers, which circle Toimd ancl round their charges in search of submarines and mines. Tho cffoct as tho transports approach Salonica is weird. Moat of them arrive, in twos, with tho Tricolour at the stern. Tho general policing of the JEgean Sea, however, "js left to British men-of-war, which loom into sight in most unexpected placcs. In pairs the J-roop-ships draw alongside the Sevbiim concession quay, and disembarkation is carried out. by practised hands at express speed. The movements of the transports are facilitated bv tho fact that tho whole of the Greek shipping has been removed from this part of the harbour, and no interference of any kind is permitted. Nothing appears to worry the British soldier., provided ho receives his three meals a day and lias something to smoke., He makes light of troubles that appear insufferable to his moro impressionable allies.

Included in tho French fo''"o is an aviation "unit, most wonderfully equipped even to the last detail. The aeroplanes aro moved from point to point on immense lorries, drawn by motor wagtrons, and they created a sensation in Salonica, whero the science of flying was for the most part only known by lioarsav. Within two hours after liftine their machi»es from tho hol3s of the transports the French aviators were in the air. of tbem weavinothrough cacli other over the city, and performing all kinds of daring feats. During tlio display the engine" cf one of tho aeroplanes failed nt about 2000 feet above the gulf, and tho airman had no alternative but to volplane into tho water. Pinnaces were despatched from warships in the neighbourhood instantly, and there was an exciting race between tbem to tho rescue. The boat of a British cruiser arrived first, and found tho aviator smoking a cigarr etto as he sat on tho floating relics of Id's machine, a little wet, but uninjured. Tho aeroplane was token in tow ■and brought back to the White Tower, where rescuers and rescued were greeted with cheers: The pilot immediately procured another machinc, and made a second flight.