MACARTHUR’S TRIBUTE

Grey River Argus, 12 September 1944, Page 6

MACARTHUR’S TRIBUTE

TO AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS FALSE AMERICAN REPORT REFUTED. , General D MacArthur commented on an allegation that. A.I.F. soldiers in Syria had sold their rifles to nn ance farewell parties. This al legation, made by Lawrence Badcoc , editor of the American magazine, “Fortune,” has aroused a storm oi The suggestion that Australian soldiers had sold their rifles in Syria is described by Mr Forde as fantastic The equinment brought back from the Middle East by war veterans of the A.I.F. was instrumental in driving the Japanese back over New Guinea’s Owen Stanley Range, said the Minister. Officers who commanded Australian units in Syria have also denied the allegation. “Any belief that the Australian divisions back from the Middle East were lacking in discipline was erroneous,” declared General MacArthur. Although he knew nothing of the conduct of Australian troops in the Middle East, he knew everything with regard to their conduct since their return to Australia. General MacArthur added:. “Australians are magnificent soldiers, not only in the field of battle, but in conduct and deportment in the back areas. There are no finer disciplined troops in the world. Grave injustice would be done if any general inference should be drawn from possible minor individual instances, that they are in any degree lacking that high tone of self-respect which so characterises and dignifies the Australian soldier.”