ANZACS' POSITION.

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

ANZACS' POSITION.

BETWEEN FRENCH AND CANADIANS. IMPATIENCE FOR ACTION. LONDON, May 0. The correspondent at British Headquarters writes: Hitherto there has been the possibility that the Germans did not know of the presence of the Australasians on the western front, so the General Staff had taken no risks by announcing the fact. The Boche, however,.has now tested their quality. They have drawn a surfeit of eulogy from the French troops, with whom they are billeted. The Canadians are also delighted to be fighting alongside the heroes of Anzac.

The Australasians, for their part, are gratified to be in France. Anzac was but a few hundred acres of "potted Hades," where there was no getting away from the eternal rattle of war, the sand, the flies, the heat and dysentery. But the western front is the goal of their desire. They talk about "the great offensive," and they want to get on with it. Their officers, however, are giving them lectures, pointing out the strategic plans of the Allies, which will involve much time in carrying out. SHELLING HEAVIER THAN GALLIPOLI, BUT SPELLS ARE APPRECIATED. LONDON, May 0. The Anzac corps is now composed of New Zealanders and Australians. The senior Australian officer in France commands the Australasian troops. Men in London speak cheerfully concerning the conditions in France, admitting that the shelling is heavier than anything encountered at Oallipoli, but long spells in billets behind the trenches relieve the strain, Officers aud men are eager. Raiding and cutting-out expeditions, as the troops settle down, will relieve the monotony of treuch life, The men's work has so far been almost solely in the supporting trenches.

NEW ZEALANDERS' AMBITION. : "AFTBR THE GERMANS." ; AUCKLAND, May 10. Great: delight was expressed by returned soldiers at the Soldiers' Club today when they learned that the New , Zealanders had ianded ill France. "We , always wanted to go to France to get at the Gentians," said one soldier. "We i had no quarrel with the Turks; it was ' the Germans we were after all the time. .When we left New Zealand in the main body we thought we were going to fight against the Germans." The speaker went on to say that there was now considerable enthusiasm among the returned men, and no doubt many who had been discharged or were still convalescent would try hard to pass the doctors and get back into the ranks. There was a likelihood of many re-enlisting at once if they were spared the drudgery of the four months' training in New Zealand. " It has been a long road to the goal of our ambition," remarked an officer. "When the men were called up for service on that memorable Sunday just before war was declared, they thought they were off to France in the morning. They were the Sainoan advance guard, and distinguished themselves by occupying and annexing the first tract of German territory taken in this war. Some of the advance guard who have returned from Samoa have gone out with rein-