ARRIVE DURING A BLIZZARD

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 110, 10 May 1916, Page 7

ARRIVE DURING A BLIZZARD

WELCOMED BY THE GERMANS! (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyrighfc.l ( .LONDON, Bth May. Nearly half the Australians and most of the New Zealanders who are now on the western front have seen fighting in Anzac or Western Egypt. Their losses in Gallipoli have been so heavy that in order to make up the full quota destined for northern France with adequate reserves it was necessary,,to draw largely upon recent drafts from the Commonwealth and the Dominion. When the expedition was being arranged there was much anxiety, some regiments fearing that they would not go. Many men belonging to the Australian Light Horse disowned their regiments, hoping to be drafted into the troops for France. None wanted to stay behind Nine hundred men of the Australian Light Horse volunteered for the infantry in 1 a single day. The last of the Australians to leave was the Anzac Headquarters Staff, with General Sir W. R. Birdwood and Genera] White. The voyage was practically without incident. Directly the men embarked they were supplied with lifebelts, which they wore all day Boat drill was part of the routine, every man being allotted his station." The navigation officers had several anxious hours, but the men were unaware of the proximity of the deadly submarines Several false alarms were sounded to test the efficiency of the safety arrangements. The troops were required to stand by the boats, but the whole body was transferred without a single mishap. There were a few cases of sickness. MEN rrlAK£ A GREAT IMPRESSION. (Received May 10, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 9th May. The arrangements for the disembarkation and entraining of the Anzacs were excellent, British landing officers and military police superintending the transfer frtai the ships to the trains. There was some amusement on the arrival of the first transport at the quay The troops, long accustomed to greet the natives of Egypt, shouted "Good Day" in Arabic. The Frenchmen, not understanding, shook their heads. -Then somebody aboard shouted,l "Vive la France," and the cry was taken up by thousands of soldiers, and there was much cheering by those ashore The town was beflagged and. the populace crowded the streets, women offering the soldiers flowers, and manifesting a delight equal toHhat on the arrival of the Indians in 1914. The Australasians' fine physique made a great impression on the French people as they marched over the cobbled streets When they entrained their destination was a profound secret; even the transport officers did not know whither the trains were going. ■« • •, Some of the troops "accomplished the journey while a fierce blizzard raged. The earliest arrivals at the British front were quartered in tents during a blizzard, which lasted the whole night, and blew down the whole cantonment. The men did; not utter a complaint, but crawled into dugouts and billets, and shared them with their British comrades. Many of\the Australasians felt the cold keenly. Some fortunately secured two blankets before leaving, Egypt, though the regulations only , provided for one. The British authorities thoughtfully distributed a thousand pairs of mittens. The moment the men entered a section of the front line trenches, the Germans opposite held up a banner inscribed, "Welcome to the Australians."