ANZACS IN PALESTINE

Cromwell Argus, Volume L, Issue 2645, 20 October 1919, Page 6

ANZACS IN PALESTINE

Tin; UNOFFICIAL REPRISALS. VIEWS OF NEW ZEALANDEILS. The act mini of unofficial reprisals oy •olonial troops in Palestine upon nati e wrong-docts. winch has been given nublicity in Australia, is continue i in the it ain by New Ze'.larul soldiers .d o v.ere present' (s:*> s the Auckland ' Herald ’i. The village of Wady Anectl. which was attacked, was occupied by Circassians. Firearms were not used, the men being armed with clubs, etc. They set fire to ; In- houses, and put a. number of men to death. Certain of the men. it is reported, risked their lives in rescuing women, who in fear refused l" leave burning houses The same night a Bedouin eiicanionient .vas simoinided. and some of the adult males were killed. It is stated that a number of officers donned j iunites’ i i.ifnrius and took pari in the affair. (lie majority of the. men from Palestine hold that the troops were quite justified in adopting reprisals, seeing that these were not taken officially. They state that British soldiers joined with the Australians and New Zealanders in their action. British artillerymen actually offered to supply guns if they were needed. Upturned men affirm that- frequently throughout the campaign the colonial and British troops suffered through (lie treachery of certain sections of the inhabitants; and the shooting of a New Zealander at Wady Anted by a thief was “the last straw.’’ Among those who justify the action are senior officers, although there are a few men who say that notwithstanding the heat of the moment the i mops had no right to carry out reprisals in the absence of conclusive evidence that a Circassian killed the New Zealander. New Zealanders do not confirm tl e statement that Field-Marshal Allcnby, when addressing the division, said he would not mention them again. They say that he said he was ashamed of the Division he once was most proud of, and they do not connect the incident with the- omission of the name of the Anzacs in the Field-Marshal's recent statement. New Zealanders consider that Lord Alleiiby gave way to anger when he addressed the Division, and they hold that his regret was expressed when the New Zealand Mojmted It iHo Brigades were specially asked for to patrol the Delta, region on the outbreak of the Egyptian riots. It is pointed out that the reprisals weie not carried out by units, but by n crowd, which represented all the regiments in the vicinity. “ At this distance," said one man, “ it may seem difficult to justify the deed, but people must realise that the force had suffered for a long lime through treachery, and their blood was up.”