WAR IN THE DESERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19857, 30 January 1928, Page 8

WAR IN THE DESERT.

The official British history of the campaign in Egypt and Palestine up to June, 1917, as described in the cable messages to-day, should reassure those Australians who feared that justice would not be done to the Australian troops engaged in it. There was, it will be recalled, a certain amount of debate about passages which it was alleged were derogatory to the Australians. The charges to that effect were answered fully, there being an assurance that full credit would be given to the Australians for their great achievements in a campaign which ultimately had a profound effect on the course of the war. From the brief cabled description, it would seem that the compilers of the history had taken extraordinary pains to emphasise the gallantry and fighting efficiency of the Australian and New Zealand mounted troops who helped to drive the Turk from Syria and Palestine. The account of one incident shows how scrupulously the historian has recounted an episode redounding to their credit when there is no written record of it. It is well that in this, the most authoritative of all Empire histox-ies describing the Eastern campaign, there should be no cause of offence to anyone. The great deeds done in that theatre, deeds which have not always received the recognition that is their due, were the work of troops from all quarters of the Empire. Success was won by loyal co-operation among them. Splendidly led, animated by a single purpose, these men fought not only the enemy but the desert and its hardships. They gained the victory. It would be. a thousand pities if any aftermath of the campaign allowed ill-feeling to dim the splendour of the deeds done in it. Therefore, the tone of the history, as indicated, is very welcome.