“B.B.L.”

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2340, 9 January 1926, Page 14

“8.8. L.”

A STORY OF ALLENBY. In “Allenby of Armageddon” Raymond Savage tells the story of the life ot that remarkable man. Lord Allenby, who is now en route to New Zealand on holiday. Allenby came home from France In the summer of 1317, having been selected for the Egyptian Command. He was sent for by Mr. Lloyd George, the Prime Minister, and informed that the Cabinet would like to have Jerusalem as a Christmas present. Again and again, Mr. Savage tells us, the Pyime Minister had appealed for an attempt at a knock-out blow upon one or another of the areas of the far-flung battle lino which stretched from Belgium to Bagdad, and, as the great offensive failed, ho felt that Palestine should be selected for the trial. Allenby walked into Jerusalem on December 11, How he swept up the Turkish army and went on from vie. tory to victory all the way to Aleppo still reads like fiction rather than stern soldiering. That Allenby liked the roads clear for his car was well known to his divisional commanders. Once in Palestine, on his way to visit a particular division ,he noticed signallers stationed at intervals and stopped to ascertain the cause. This conversation took place: Commander-in. Chief: “Wha£ are you doing?” Signaller; “Signalling, sir.” C-ln-C: “I can see that, but for what reason ar*» you signalling. S: “A warning that you are ap. proaehing Divisional Headquarters sir.” C-in-C: “Oh, and what form is the message taking?’ 1 S: “Three letters, sir.” C-in.C: “What are they?” (Confusion, a blush and dead silence on the part of the signaller). “Come on what are they?” S (after a minute's hesitation): “Please sir, 8.8. L.” C-in-C: “8.8. L. What does that mean?” S (confused, terrified, but caught): “Please sir, “B Bull’s Loose!” Mr. Savage’s wonderfully human book, thrilling In its military chap, ters and abounding in good stories of the complex Allenby, contains a preface by Mr. Lloyd George, who speaks of his deep admiration for Lord Allenby’s character as a man and a soldier.