AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 4 May 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS.

TWELVE MILES OF SOLDIERS.

CAIRO, March 23. El Matarieh is a mud village something over 5000 years old. it is'bieet&ed by that line which so effectively divides Siile mud and uesert sand in Kgypt, one part of it having a setting «i glorious, green, while the other is barren and dessicated as the ocean beach above high-water mark. It is a typical Arab centre, the home of the fehaneeri, who till the fields and tend the scraggy cattle. Even the venerable feheiim does not know much ol the village's history, beyond the fact that tJie Virgin ana her <Jlnld are said to have taken refuge there during tie flight into Egypt, and ha will show a sycamore planted in 1672 which marts the spot. The plain has, however, seen •at least two bloody struggles. In 1517 Seiini and the Turks beeanio masters of the Nile country as the result of a decisive battle at El Maiarieh, which ended with the storming of Cairo, and on March 20th, 1300, General Kleber (who was afterwards assassinated close to the steps of Shepheard's Hotel), with 10,000 French troops, succeeded in defeating 60,000 Egyptians there. Such, is,the nature of the sand of the Libyan desert that most of the bones of friend and foe who were buried head to heel in the trenches over 100 years ago are still intact.

Quite a different military scene was set in tba tragic spot this morning, and over 17,000 troops from the youngest of the British dominions played the principal parts. Of all the stirring incidents that El Matarieh has seen since the dawn of history, it has never gazed on anything more impressm? than that display by the rhiidreu of the Empire,1 equipped ready for war. Every man, horse, and vehicle of the New Zealand and Australian division had been summoned to parade, and only the sick failed to answer the call. The assembly was a spectacle in itself. Columns of troops almost simultaneously came up out of the horizon, south, east, and west, each moving in a welldefined zone so as not to become involved with its neighbor. At one period the ■ whole of that part of the desert seemed suddenly'to have been imbued with life. Soldiers came from everywhere, all khaki-clad, and toning with Nature's manoeuvre-ground. It was quite impossible to pick out individual units from the- mass. The infantry sent up a volume of dust as they pounded the desert with their feet*; each light horseman seemed to have a special cloud to' himself, and the eighthorsed field-guns, howitzers, and cable waggons had to be taken on trust, because they were all shrouded behind a curtain of yellow. Just at the moment when it appeared inevitable that all branches of the force must certainly tangle in an inextricable confusion, an order was given, and everyone seemed to find his right place. The bands brought their tramping followers into position with a swing. The mounted troops, with horses champing at the bits, were the last to arrive, coming 1 over the country widely extended, and at a stately walk. What looked to be a disorganised mass in the early stages slowly but surely took shape, and when the commanding officer (Major-General Sir IC J- Godley) was ready to take up his position, a kind of human mosaic had laid itself out in front of him. ThA front covered eight miles, and was half as deep, forming a pretty martial picture over the forgotten graves of men who, in more gorgeous uniforms, had fought to the death in bygone years.

As soon as the word was passed along that all was ready, Major-General Godley and his staff commenced their inspection, riding up and down the lines with the avowed intention of picking faults, but they were hard to find. Long residence in camp had taken tbe newness from uniforms and boots, and the sheen from horses' coats, but battles are not won by good looks, and it was the things that lay inside that attracted more attention. The inspection took over two hours, and it was almost lunch time when the troops prepared to march past. At the saluting base was the commander-in-chief (Lieut.-General J. D. Maxwell) and the Australasian Army Corps Commander (Maier-General Birdwood), in addition to the divisional staff, but there were also many unofficial spectators on camels' backs, on donkeys, and on buffaloes, while half-a-dozen Bedouin horsemen reined in their shaggy charges to admire the new generation of a force that had taught their own fathers many a good lesson. The entire native population of El Matarieh appeared to have taken a holiday. The green fields were deserted, and yat>hmaked women in black robes, vith baskets of oranges on their heads, brought their.babies to hear the bands.

It took the column four hours to pass, twelve miles of armed strength being drawn across the show which the Union Jack at the staff office*'s lancehead threw upon the^round. All the New Zealand infantrymen wore knee-breeches and puttees, slowing their sun-browned knees, but a garment mort suitable for a cold climate is to be issued almost immediately. Their marching was splendid, J.nd to say that the Australians showed themselves to just a little better advantage is to pay them the highest compliment. As usual, the mounted troops made a fine display, and as the 4000 horses passed the saluting base they seemed to hold themselves at attention, as if they instinctively knew that something special was expected of them. There was, however, no attempt at cmx^ty «how in any particular; the display was eminently utilitarian. In the severe, business-like appearance of the men and their fighting equipment lay the impressiveness of the review. Previous to the combined parade each brigadier had made a close inspection of his own units, and as a result such severe calls had been made upon the quartermastergeneral's department that at to-day's gathering there were very few deficiences to be criticised.

Since their arrival in Egypt this was the first ceremonial parade in which the troops of the second expeditionary force had taken part.. Tt was originally intended that ther*1 should be a march through the struts of Cairo, but the training programme left so little time at the disposal of the*chiefs thtit that idea had to m- abandoned. To-day's review showed v hat as far as equipment is concerned ;.<i-th the Australians and New Zealand crs are ready for battle, and, as far ns is possible without ball cartridge, thvir work afield has proved that they know how to fight. Nothing but the supreme test of action against a determir.<-d enemy can now disclose anything c:.se, mid all ranks are anxious for tliai trial by fire to come as soon as possible. Olfieers ai'ul men are beginning t< chafe under continuous training and paying at war; they want to fight.—Special eorreroondent' Melbourne Argus.