AUSTRALASIANS IN FRANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 19

AUSTRALASIANS IN FRANCE.

ENTHUSIASM OF THE SVSEN. LONDON, May 8. Nearly half of the Australians and most of the New Zealanders who are at the west front have seen fighting at Anzac or in Western Egypt. Their losses at Gallipoli were so heavy that in order to make up the full quota destined for Northern France, with

adequate reserves, it was necessary to draw largely upon recent drafts from the commonwealth and the dominion. When the expedition was being arranged there was much anxiety, some regiments fearing that they would not go. Many men belonging to the Light Horse disowned their regiments, hoping to be drafted into the troops for Fiance. None wanted to stay behind. Nine hundred Light Horse volunteered for the infantry in a single day. The last Australians left, carrying with them the Anzac Headquarter Staff under Generals Birdwood and White. The voyage was practically without incident. Directly the men embarked they were supplied with lifebelts, which they wore all day. Boat drill was part of the routine, and every man was allotted a station. The navigation officers spent several anxious hours, but the men were not aware of the proximity of the deadly submarines. Several false alarms were sounded to test the efficiency of the safety arrangements. The troops were required to stand by the boats, but the whole body was transferred without a single mishap. There were a few cases of sickness. On the last day of the trip a meeting was arranged on the troopship, and General Birdwood addressed 3500 men. A printed cony of the address was distributed to every member of the force, together with the text of Lord Kitchener's message to the Expeditionary Force in August, 1914. General Birdwood urged the Anzacs to live up to their ideal, and then proceeded : —" You have made yourselves a national reputation as good fighters, which has earned you the esteem of the comrades alongside of whom you will soon be fighting. You have two important qualities—the fighting spirit and training; but a third nuality (discipline) is essential to success, and is the greatest of the three. Without it the best fighting troops in the world would fail to achieve success. You will be faced with temptations in France, because you will probably be billeted in densely-populated villages. Drink will, I fear, be obtainable. The villages will be mostly full of women and children, whose fathers, husbands, and brothcis are fighting for the country against the common enemy. I have not the slightest doubt you will respect the women, because you well know how repugnant the idea of an offence against a defenceless woman is to every Australian and New Zealander. " Against drink I wish particularly to warn you. I implore you to take hold of yourselves, and in case of every man absolutely make up his mind to determine for himself that he will not give way thereto, remembering that the honour of Australia or New Zealand is in his keeping. You know I am referring to a very small proportion. The great majority don't want snch a warning. I earnestly beg them to do all in their power to look after their comrades not having the same strength of mind. Remember, a few black sheep can give a bad name to the whole flock. Let us make up our minds that the Australian and New Zealand Forces are going to prove themselves second to none in discipline, as they have already done where sheer hard , fighting is concerned. See to this, boys. You know you are capable of it, and if you do it you will return to Australia and New Zealand after peace and victory with an unsullied reputation which will go down for all time in your home." THE RUSSIAN ARMY. ADMIRABLY EQUIPPED. PETROGRAD, May 9. It is semi-officially stated that the present Russian army is excellently equipped, being wholly armed with Russian rifles of a new model. Every regiment is well supplied with the newest machine guns, and tho supply of munitions is adequate. Two million men are now training in the interior.