LEAVE FOR ANZACS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 28 September 1918, Page 8

LEAVE FOR ANZACS.

AUSTRALIANS GRATIFIED,

ARRANGEMENTS CONCLUDED. (Commonwealth Official—Copyright.) LONDON. Sept. 16. Home leave tvill be given Australian? for the first time since the beginning of the war. Owing to the great d'fficulties of sh-pping, home leave was unknown. The Australian units will now obtain this privilege for their old-enlisted men, on the Australian Prime Minister's urgent appeal. This magnificent piece of newa was given to Australian 6oldiers to-day by Mr. Hughes, who visited the Australian front. Speaking to a number of Australian soldiers who had been in the Egypt and : Gallipoli force since 1914, Mr. Hughes said that as a result of strong representations to the War Office he had succeeded in making arrangements whereby the 1914 , men, of whom it was estimated that about i 7000 were still with the Australian Force , abroad, will be granted homo leave. Arrangements had already bean concluded ! by which men leave for Australia during the autumn, the whole number being. despatched before winter seta in. The Prime Minister said that the ] arrangements provided for their return to the front during spring. He believed Ujat the presence in Australia of these splendid ' men would give an immense impetus to , recruiting. This announcement received . an immensely warm welcome throughout tho whole force.