THE ANZACS' LINE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 4 January 1918, Page 3

THE ANZACS' LINE.

OWNERS OF NO MAN'S LAND

JOB THAT HAS TO BE DONE

LONDON, December 18

I spent two days living with the men in the trenches, and can testify that whatever ills may be besetting the other armies in Europe, all is well with the Australians, cables Mr Keith Murdoch. It is not permissible to discuss the numbers now in the field, but moral, fitness, equipment, and organisation can be declared good. These sturdy divisions are determined to see the war through. They all know that new difficulties and prolongations have arisen in the job which they had expected to be short, but all agree dutifully that it is a job that has got to be done.

I have heard no grousing, and much good-natured fun. in the most trying circumstances, and always there is intelligent interest in the work of the army.

The Australians look younger than ever. Whole companies' look like a collection of mere boys, but sharp and keen-featured boys—hard and wiry, yet fun ot generous, youthful impulses. Nearly every boy has made great friendships amongst his comrades, and has pals bound to him by such ties as only the ordeals of warfare can make. I have visited the Anzacs in many zones and sectors, and never found them looking and feeling better than in the line this frosty December. Though now a veteran army, the Anzacs have lost none of their distinctive virility and youthfulness. The Australians are working at full pressure, constantly improving their positions, strengthening the defence schemes, patrollino- and "owning No Man's Land," and gladly engaging there in battles with, the Boches. \ COOKS UNDER FIRE. I The system is working to perfection, In tne xpres bacues we riequentiy sent xioc iocd out a few hours after tho first waves, got gum-boots up to the new lines by niglit time, ana had the j duck-boards laid witnin a day to the closest of the screened positions. The same system now provides two hot { meals daily for the men in the outerI most trenches. Thefood is cooked a thousand or two yards behind the lines m trench ovens invented by a Sydney man, and then 'is carried in containers jto the chilled vigi£_eepers ahead. Frequently the men have enough from tiieir liberal supplies of soup and fresh meat to enable them to cook it again ■ in the Tommy cookers for a third meal. This is nqt done without danger to the-. | cooks. Recently, during cooking dper- ! I ations, a redoubt was suddenly battered by ii Bosche shell. Apparently I the Bosche had seen mov_:;-i_nts, ana | had decided to knock out the party. I _'he officers estimate that CO') shells, I worth £11,000, fell in the neighborhood !of the redoubt during an liour. A search party failed to find ai: ac,< of the , cooks, and decided that ther ha I been i obliterated, but three hours Liter a . runner heard a strange so.uidi coming ■ from a pipe leading from the battered j remnant of the redoubt. Scai„i rei vealed the party imprisoned in a corner lof the redoubt, nearly suffocated and ■ exhausted through shouting 'tl;r_ugh 1 the pipe. I In three hours these same cooks, had ! collected new materials an<T utousils, ■ and had a hot meal for the boys. This is a typical story, but it would j require many dispatches to describe all j the varieties of worries, labors ar.d adventures in keeping "up the wonder. 1 I supplies of food, wire, timber, clo-ihcs iron, weapons, and rainproof. Isa v a ! reserve company actually feeding on j fried fresh fish and chips.

NIGHT IN NO MAN'S LAND. , The men could, however, do with more comforts. The Australian Comforts Fund has a settled place in th<->r esteem and affections far greater th > the Red Cross. The Comforts Fr._d gives what the men really need and appreciate. For instance, a cen-- v padre some 2000 yards behind the lire controls a little tin stall like a nu---course bar or a Melbourne street coll"» stall. Here 1800 pannikins of steamii: •• cocoa are given nightly to working pities who call going and coming, and find creat good cheer and physical comfort here.

The men get fair supplies of vegetables, some using the fields of turnips planted by the industrious Fritz before nis flight. Last night I went out Into No Man's Land with a party. Nothing on earth could be more eerie. It was a star-lit night. I felt that every star and searchlight was pointing at our party. Every sound and sight seemed to be magnified a hundred-fold by my startled senses. : The silence would be suddenly broken by the crackle of a German machme-gun seemingly at our elbows. As suddenly an enemy flare would light the darkness; and we would tensely try to make ourselves invisible We visited the outposts, where brave men kept all night long their silent - peering into the goom with guns, bayonets and bombs ever ready. We wormed our way through mazes of wire and shell-holes near the German lines. I felt as though in a new world ot appalling doubts and uncertainties, yet knew that it was a placid visit compared with thousands of the dangerous patrols made by these great soldiers.

General Monash is in London. He says that the conditions at the front are infinitely better than they were last winter. The health or the'men is extraordinarily good. His troops hold a quiet part of the line. 'The linking up of the Australians is appreciated by the men, and it simplifies the administration. He singled out the artillery for its magnificient work, and said that tne_ ammunition columns largely shared in it.

. _\o matter." lio said, "how terrifying the situation is you can always trust the drivers to bring up th e munitions There is no need for the officers to shepherd the men. They will o*t through or die. The infantry and subsidiary services are unmatchame. On c learns to love them more daily The Australian airmen attached to -£necorp s are shaping splendidly "