GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 51

GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS.

TRIBUTE BY GENERAL GODLEY. WANGANUI, October 21. ■General Godley writes to Colonel Hughespraising the gallantry of the troops. He says it is impossible to find in military history anything finer than the night march of the Wellington Mounted Rifles through scrub-covered country on August 6, or the assault of the Wellington Infantry Battalion on Chunuk Bair heights on the morning of August 8. General Godley adds: “We are woefully depleted in numbers at present, the Infantry Brigade being only 1200 instead of 4000, and, the Mounteds 400 instead of 2000.” A CHAPLAIN’S TRIBUTE. WELLINGTON, October 21. In a letter to Monsignor M‘Kenna (of Masterton), Chaplain M‘Menamin, of the Wellington Infantry Battalion, who is on active service at Gallipoli, says:—“ I can say that no troops, British or Indian, have excelled our own boys for bravery and determination. My predominant feeling in this terrible time is one of immense pride in our New Zealand soldiers. How they did fight! Though at times they seemed in danger of being wiped right out, they never broke for an instant I wish I could say the same for all the others engaged hero.” LETTER FROM ITALY: The following is an extract from a letter dated August 2, from the Italian correspondents of Messrs Kompthorno, Prosser, and Co.: —“Our best thanks arc due to you for your kind wishes for our success in the righteous war wo have undertaken. The advance wo have been effecting lately is very flattering indeed to us, and we trust that it may continue. Wo cannot, however, lot this letter pass without a word of hearty praise for the gallant sons of New Zealand in their epic struggle on the peninsula of Gallipoli. It makes one feel doubly strong when one considers that one is -allied with a country whoso men are capable of such feats as their landing and subsequent advance. Wo firmly trust that moans will bo

found of lotting us have the advantage of a visit of a few regiments of your famous troops here before they return homo afterwards. Such Would be a powerful factor for a better general understanding, and would let the brave fellows feel that their groat efforts did not go unobserved by others. Wo are looking forward to great things from them as time goes on, and do not think that such men could disappoint us.”