ANZACS ON THE CANAL

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 75, 26 September 1916, Page 7

ANZACS ON THE CANAL

GOOD WORK RECOGNISED

STAFF OFFICERS NAMED -FOR

RECOGNITION,

(Received September 26, 8 a._m|)

LONDON, 25th September

Sir Archibald Murray (who was Com-mander-in-Chief in the Eastern Mediterranean), in a despatch, dated Ist June, gives details of the reorganisation! of the Dardanelles army and the re-equipment of the Australians and New Zealanders. It* states that the training of the Australian reinforcements took place at.Tel-el-Kebir, until the Anzac training depots were transferred to England. The Turks, prior to March, had 250,000 troops ready for an on the Canal, but after the capture of Erzerum the garrisons in Syria weTe reduced to (55,000. The Second Australian and New Zealand Army Corps came into existence on the 27th March, under the command of General Godley. X: consisted of MajorGeneral Cox's Fourth Division, MajorGeneral M'Cay's Fifth Division, and Major-General Chauvel's Anzac Mounted Division. The Army Corps assisted .in patrolling the western front. The Ninth Australian Light Horse, under Major Scott, made a successful reconnaissance of Jifjaffa from the 11th to the 15th April. The operation was most creditable to all ranks. The Fifth' Australian Light Horse assisted in the pursuit of the Turks at El Kantara on the 23rd April. During May reconnaissances were frequent on the east front, where three brigades of Anzac mounted men, -*' including the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, were present, and they proved a unit which could be absolutely depended upon, and displayed energy, resource, and endurance.

Sir Archibald Murray recommends the following for notice : General Birdwood, General Godley, Major-General.- Cox, Major-General M'Cay, and MajorGeneral Chaavel. Lieut.-Colonel C. Richardson, of the New Zealand Staff, is recommended for good service .with the Salonika army.