TIRELESS ANZACS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16696, 14 November 1917, Page 8

TIRELESS ANZACS.

: WORK IN PALESTINE. "PREPARING TO ADVANCE. ': . ,"■ ' *'•.' CAIBO. Nov.. 2. . Reuteb's correspondent at British head- , i quarters in Palestine says that the fifth 1 ' counter-attack upon our new positions on the left flank was repulsed with heavy loss last night. We are now bombarding the strong points on this part of the enemy's second line. A strong enemy patrol at night approached our position at. Sheiks Abbas, West of Gaza j but the patrol was driven off by artillery and machine-gun fire, with considerable loss. "Oar captures since the beginning of the offensive now amount to 207 officers and over 2400 men of other ranks. Our aviators have been very active. ' * "'/-"■■■ V£* The naval wing bombed the railway, communications and stores with good effect. Ten direct hits were secured on & bridge and a munition factory at Wiljulie, 15 miles north of Jaffa. Oar airmen also bombed the station and stores at Tel iSheria, on the Beersheba railway. J Our cavalry captured another well in the limestone hills north-east of Beersheba, the enemy making a feeble resistance. The spirit of our men is something to marvel at. Dust, sand, heat, and fatigue seem -to roll off, their backs , t like water | from the back of a duck. It would almost seem, though, that the long spell of inactivity has whetted their appetities for I fighting. They are as keen as schoolboys holidaying, and are splendidly fit. This keenness is not confined to combatants, but is general among all the auxiliary services. They shirked no efforts, in spite of the great strain under which they had been labouring for the past ten days or a fortnight. For instance, t the Australians worked for 24 hours on end at certain wells 15 miles south of Beersheba in order to facilitate the circling movement. The cavalry were up to their waists in mud, sand, and water, but cheerfully kept on with the work. General Sir Edmund Allenby personally visited them while they were labouring in the hottest part of the day. He spoke cheering words, which were heartily appreciated. The Commander-in-Chief does not spare himself. He does prodigious journeys, notwithstanding the bad roads, heat, and dust. To see his cheery face caked with dust is naturally an inevitable encouragement to the men, and stimulates them to put forth their best efforts, and makes ; them work with double zest, in the know, ledge that their zeal is recognised and | appreciated.