FOR LACK OF MEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17815, 13 June 1918, Page 6

FOR LACK OF MEN.

DWINDLING AUSTRALIAN FORCES. BREAKING UP OF FAMOUS BATTALIONS. (Official Commonwealth Correspondent.) LONDON, June 1. The cutting down of the Australian forco in France, in order to compensate for tho absenco of normal reinforcements, is being carried out up to the present by disbanding one battalion after another as the shortage makes it necessary. So far, the battalions which are being thus dealt with are the 36th, 47th and 52nd. The 52nd was a battalion which was formed from the 12th battalion, after Gallipoli, consisting of Queensland and Tasmanian troops. Lately it has become entirely a Queensland unit: Its first great fight was at Mouquet Farm, where, for three days, it was involved in a tremendous struggle with the second Prussian Guard reserve division till relieved by tho Canadians. In its next great fight, at Messiues, it iv:.'t-ii .. ... s no nt gained on the first day. It seisied 800 yards of front line on the flank where a neighbouring division was held up, and by so doing probably saved tho situation in the centre of this advance. Later, it went through the Ypros battle, though not heavily engaged, but it never gamed more glory than in the recent fighting, where it was the one battalion which bore the brunt of the German attack at Dernnncourt. Within a fortnight afterwards it made a magnificent night attack, which all tho world knows—Villers-Bretonneux.

Tho 47th, also a Queensland battalion, was formed out of tho old 15th. Its first great fight was at Pozieres, where it had to withstand a most terrible German bombardment in the old German linos. The 47th had portion of its strength in the memorable attack in which the Fourth Australian Division broke through the Hindonburg wire at Bulleeourt. It was one of the attacking battalions at Messines which renehed the furthest object on the first afternoon, and taught a give-and-take struggle till tho position was assured with reinforcing trow next day. The 47fch made -one of the most difficult Attacks ever made by the Australians in the great bottle of Yprrs, and lately it was the 47th who took the main brunt of tho Dernnncourt attack full in the chest after driving back the_ Germans day after dav from the railway embankment. Sergeant MnoDougnll won the Victoria Cross in this battle by repelling, almost single-handed, from an isolated post on one flnnk a German attempt to cross the railway line on the verv mornintr after the 47th here stemmed the (German advance. Tho 36th (New South Wnle°} Battalion, beyond question, saved VillersBretonneux when the Germans flung themselves against the town on April 4. The 36th was in reserve. Late in the afternoon, by a tremendous attaek, the British line was driven in. together with the flank of the Australians. The 36th had a well known fighting commander. "Jock" Milne, an old Gallipoli soldier. No sooner were the retiring troops seen coming over the rise about him thnn ho ordered tho battalion to fix bayonets and up over the ridge at once. The Germans advancing there suddenly found n line of crrim men with bayonet* coming straight, towards them wTipro thev expeeted to fi>>d men retiring The German line at ""o© wavered, and fell bnck. "Jock" Milne a few days afterwards was killed by a shell, but his fighting tradition lives through the force. That Is exactlv the wnv In which are fac'ng present emergencies. The S6th fought vptv heavy battles on the right of £he British line at Marines, "nd chirm? the most difficult and amhWous attack ever undertaken before Ypres. The name badges of the three battalions will be preserved at the depots, but the battalions themselves will be gone. Some other famous battalions will go. They will be kept up till the last possible moment, but the dissoNitfcm is certain if the fighting is as heavy as at Ypres. Further reduction is certain—possibility by the abolition of one division in one aot. A DOCTOR'S APPEAL. The nrincipala in a boxing contesfdt Dubbo, Cook and Wall, presented themselves at the surgery of Or liurkitt for examination a few days ago, states the Dubbo correspondent of tlio "Sydney Morning Herald." The doctor for some tune refused to give a certificate, but afterwards he offered a certificate conditionally that he would be allowed t) enter the ring before tho light and give bis reasons for refusal. Permission was granted, and just prior to tho contest the doctor stepped into the ring, and addressed those assembled in the tent. Tho utterances of &}• Burkitt were fervid and patriotic, and were spoken in such a way as to leave n<- doubt as to their meaning. He was brief and to the point, and the large crowd heartily applauded tho doctor when ho had finished. Ho said:—"You will know that I am a sport and a lover of sport. You have come here to-night to see two fine specimens of young Australians enter into a contest. I venture to say here that young Cook is one of the finest specimens of manhood that I Lave ever had under examination. I hear that his parents will not give their consent to his going to the front because he is only nineteen years of hgoy still they allow him to enter the ring and engago in a prize fight. Cook is as good as any tbfeo Germans, and I would liko to lead a thousand such as he into battle. Friends, just think. About twelve months ago at Messines Ridge I saw your Australian brothers coming out of the trenches after twenty-one days of continuous and stienuoua fighting. If you had seen those tired Australians there is not a man here who would not have said, 'By. God; I will take their places'and you would have done it. Yet hero in Australia men of the physique of Cook and Wall fight for amusement, while our brave Australian boys nro djing for the want of assistance on the battlefields of Franco. Think of it, men. I make this offer to George Cook. If he enlists and goes to the front I will incur* him for £2OO. (Applause.) If Phil Wall will co I will get a friend to insure him for a like sum, and I promise that while he is away— I believe he is a married man—his wife and familv Will be well provided for bv the authorities whose duty it is to do this. (Applause.) I toll you this. I have given certificntes for this fight, but never again will I give a certificate for men who should be nt the front to fiiht for nmueenient. while our Austrnlinns are neoding their assistance in the firing line. I ask von to *Mnk deeply of what I have "said." (Loud applause.)