The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, MAY 16. ANZACS IN FRANCE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 89, 16 May 1916, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, MAY 16. ANZACS IN FRANCE.

Many indications, direct and indirect, have recently been given u.s that the L Australasian troops, with the exception ' ol' the mounted regiments, were in [ France, and precisely as occurred wheu •lit was necessary to transport Indian ' troops over the same route the publicar lion of the fact was not permissable. > Though probably the movements of our '- men were better known to the enemy than to ourselves, obviously no information could be permitted to reach them that it was possible to withhold. Recent cables showed us that enemy subt marines were on the watch for our trans*l ports, but happily they failed iu their 1 object. The fact that the movements r of our men were unfortunately known to the Germans is shown by the message of 1 welcome which was held up by the Huns in the trenches opposing those occupied 3 by the Australasians. In the case of the Canadians and many famous British and Indian regiments this has been the case again anil again. We are 1 told that even the transport officers did not know the destination of the Australians, so great was the secrecy observed. Yet in the face of this it is clear that the Germans knew the movements of our men, which is yet another proof of the far-reaching effects of their spy system. There were many indications that the Western front was the [destination of the Auzacs, the removal ' of the New Zealand hospital from Salonika to France being one, and the discussion of the treatment of wounded New Zealanders in France being another. Another "pointer" was the appeal of the New Zealaud Y.M.C.A. iu Egypt for £IOOO for a field station with the New Zealanders in France and of the Australian Y.M.'C.A. similarly. The account of the voyage is now known to our readers, and is also the magnificent reception of our men by the French at Marseilles, the blizzard which greeted them at the front and drove them for shelter into British dug-outs, and the German welcome already alluded to. The German press has repeatedly heaped insults on the heads of the Australians, declaring that they were absolutely useless as soldiers, were undisciplined and would only prove an embarrassment to the British if ever put in opposition to the Kaiser's soldiery. The Germans are

already finding out on which side the embarrassment lies. There was some fear that fighting under Western conditions Australian impetuosity might be the means of bringing disaster upon them. They would either break through or there would be a catastrophe. Australians and New Zealanders love General Birdwood, and we are sure they can be trusted to take his straightforward, manly advice to. heart. If they do this no fear need be felt that they will not enhance in the West their glorious record in the East. Though the conditions in some respects will be more difficult against the better organised foe, we have the authority of our own Colonel Chaytor and others who saw both, that the fighting in Prance and Flanders is "a picnic" compared to Anzac. When they have had a spell in the trenches the Australasians will be able to get a spell out clear of the perpetual danger of shell fire, which was never absent at Anzac, and actually made the men prefer to be in the front line trenches for safety to the "rest" camps. The Canadians have been held up as models to the British and French for the ingenuity and .daring with which they harry the foe, and we are confident the Anzacs who secured dominance over "No Man's Land" in Gallipoli, though they were "the under dog" territorially all the time, will make Hans and Fritz wish their trip to 'Constantinople hail not been so suddenly interrupted. When our men left here they thought in thenhearts that their fate might be garrison duty, and they might never see the real i'oc. When they were intercepted at Egypt they regretted that they were not to go right on. After Anzac. they again feared that they were seemingly not to get right to grips with the real enemy. Now they are face to face with him, with a reputation already made—and a reputation to justify and enhance. That they will enhance it we all hope and believe, and they will have the betteii chance, since it is the summer of sunshine and great things they will be facing, and not winter misery.