FRANCE'S CORDIALITY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 88, 12 May 1916, Page 3

FRANCE'S CORDIALITY.

[Special from the New Zealand Official War Correspondent.J Headquarters in France, May 7. Not long ago, when the German Chan J cellor was stating in the Reichstag that the Dardanelles undertaking was a failure, lie little dreamt that the Auzac Army 'Corps had already landed in Fram-e, well equipped, in the piuk of condition, ami eager for their first clash of arms with the real enemy. Yet such was the case. Even while he was speaking the men irom the first battalion were marching to the front lines. All along the route from the port of disembarkation to the front the Anzacs received a cordial welcome from the French people. Women irom the Red Cross and others met them at wayside stations with coffee, cakes and fruit.

From the dripping dugouts of Gallipoli and the hot khamsin-swept sands of Egypt to comfortable billets and the springtime rural beauty of France is a great but delightful change, and the troops were thoroughly interested in their new surrounding's. Their behaviour so far has been highly satisfactory. They are billeted in villages and farmhouses, and they quickly got on friendly terms with the people, and it was no uui-omiuon sight to see some bigoverseas warrior nursing a baby, or with one or two peasant youngsters marching proudly at his side. All the arrangements made by the British Army worked excellently, both oilicers and men being loud in their praise of them. 'On all hands the British and the overseas troops are fraternising, and everything augurs well for a successful campaign. The French people are wonderfully calm and optimistic, and consider that the Germans are already beaten, though none can predict when the end will come. THE FIRST REAL ACTION. GKKMANS -SU'PFKR SEVERELY. ENEMY TRICK DETECTED. LONDON, .May I). A soldier on furlough says: "The Australasians had their first real action in France on Friday. The enemy raided the trenches, after bombarding, lint were immediately driven out." "Friday afternoon was calm on the Australasian front. In the evening several batteries terrifically bombarded a liit-yards front. It was more intense than anything experienced on Oallipoli, and the ground is more rocky. Various calibres of high-explosive shells were employed, and then shrapnel. The Aus-tralasians-were ordered to withdraw to the support trenches. Then 100 Germans rushed the trench, but only .'(0 reached

it, the rest, being mown down bv flanking machine guns. An English-speaking officer, disguised in an Anzac uniform, attempted to deter the Australasians from.obeying an order to return, calling: ''This way, boys; the Germans are coming.' No one 1 " was deceived into the belief that he was the leader of the Australasians' supports. Several Germans were bayoneted, and then the true supports arrived, making short work of the enemv.

"Next day the Australasians had their revenge. The Germans, bringing up supports or a relieving force, were caught by a concentrated fire in a communication treuch on rising ground behind their front, and suffered heavily. Observers saw them carrying off dead and wounded during several hours.

• "The Australasian casualties in France were: — Eight officers, 76 men. Wounded: 10 officers, 30tt then."

PRIME MINISTER'S TRIBUTE. WELLINGTON, May 10. There was a demonstration of keen appreciation in the House ol' Representatives yesterday afternoon when the Prime Minister read his Excellency's announcement that the Australian and New Zealand Forces are occupying a portion of the front in France. Right Hon. W. F. Massev said he was quite sure he was expressing the sentiment of members in saying that tlrey were all pleased that the Australians and New Zealanders were again to be associated in active service. (Applause.) "I am certain," he added, "they will hold their part of the front which has been allotted to them in the way in rvhich we would expect and wish the Anzaes to hold it. In addition to that, I am sure that when the order comes to advance, as it will come, there will be no hanging back by our boys associated with the Australians. I am quite certain they will not be the last in the British Army to get there," (Cheers.)