PORTUGUESE UNDER FIRE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1917, Page 6

PORTUGUESE UNDER FIRE.

MKX OF STURDY QUAJ

WOHlv ON JSIUTJSII FKON’i

The cordiality of lire relationship between British soldiers and the Boi - tngueso may be taken as: finally cemented by "the fact, that the latter now have a nickname, says the cone-

rpomleiit of tlic London Tiint?si on Hie Western I'ioHit. They are “Antonio,” which isi already shortened i‘>

.showing- that the rapprochement is consecrated and complete. Some weeks ago the Portuguese infantry took’their first formal potion in’ the line. Since then they have held their place with gallantry, though severely tested. Perhaps the (lermansi thought these now troops in the line would he “easy.” they have bombarded them heavily with both big- guns and trend) mortars. 'I hey have attacked them with gas shells, hut they have got very little satisfaction, though they have officially bragged of taking a small number of prisoners. On the contrary, the Portuguese have paid in good coin. They have raided the Herman trendies. broken into them and held them until it suited them to come back. And on that occasion not only those in the actual assault, but the troops in support, who have a;n, even more trying time, behaved with conspicuous coolness) for men new to the

game. With padi incident, almost" with every dav, the men gain confidence in themselves. Ihev are naturally fighters, very eager to learn these 'newfangled fighting ways, and are unusually hard-working. British officers in contact with the Portuguese

my that parties! of Portuguese. set to digging or similar work will labor as lon-d a'nd as conscientiously when left to themselves as if under the, command of officers, and this isi asi true, of the infantry in the Hue asi of the detachments engaged in such special work a a railway construction, etc. That tho Portuguese should have had a. good deal to learn when they came is not surprising, for we and the French have been learning for three yearsi, and the Germans no less. Moreover, it would have been neither reasonable nor practicable to transplant with the troops tbe whole army organisation, and it wag necessary, for the siike of uniformity and smooth r work ftig behind the lines, that most of the auxiliary services should be British. General Fernando Tarnag-

nim lias had difficulties in the process of adaptation and in the establishment of solidarity, hut- he hast jdiown exceptional qualities, and his designation tn the chief command of the Portuguese' Expeditionary Koree. was extremely happy. All our officers. also, have conceived the greatest reiiiird for the soldierly character and abilities nt (leneral homez da Costa. Besides the infantry the Portuguese field artillery is ■partieulai ly onod. The o'umiersi are methodical, conscientious, and brave and their shontino is admirable. Tn all ways, indeed, there is every prospect of the Portuguese continuing to prove themselves an inereasin“le valuable element in tlit* armies on this Ironl.