LORD RAWLINSON

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 27

LORD RAWLINSON

WAR JOURNAL PUBLISHED. COLONIAL INFANTRY PRAISED. LONDON, March 7. Lord Rawlinson’s war journal, dealing with an attack on August 8, 1918, says : — It was a most anxious busines marshalling 14 divisions of infantry, three of cavalry, and more than 2000 guns and 450 tong on a 10-mile front without giving the enemy an inkling.” But on August 9 Lord Rawlinson was able to write:—“ We have had two splendid days. The Canadians and Australians have done splendid work. The surprise was complete, and the tanks were up all the time. Some armoured cars surprised the German headquarters at breakfast. Nearly 20,000 prisoners were taken. Everybody did splendidly, but I think tha spirit of the colonial infantry was probably a decisive factor. I am very proud to have commanded so magnificent an army in this historic battle.” Under date August 14 Lord Rawlinson says:—“ I visited the Australians, and heard many extraordinary stories.” He gives a sample: “ The company of an Australian officer, A. G. Gaby, was held up on August 8 by a German strong point. Gaby crawled through the wire and jumped on the parapet alone, and with his revolver compelled 60 Germans and four machine gunner s to surrender. Alas! He was killed on August 11. We must get him a posthumous Victoria Cross.” On the night of August 30 Lord Rawlinson wrote:—' The second and third Australian Divisions are determined to get hold of Mont St. Quentin and Peronne. If they can do it quickly I shall be delighted, but I doubt as to the Bosche giving up so important positions without a stiff fight.” The next entry —August 31—reads : “ As 1 was dressing this morning a message was received that the Australians had captured Mont St. Quentin. It is indeed a manificent performance. No praise is too high.” THE LAST WORD. LONDON, March 9. Lord Rawlinson concludes his war journal details with the following words: “So this is the end of the greatest war in history. The great German Empire has crumpled to dust. The pertinacity and determination of the British Empire have been prime forces in bringing this about, though if the brutality of the German methods had not forced America to join us, the war might have gone on for another two years. I commanded the British, the Australians, the Canadians, the South Africans, and the Americans, and if we make a proper peace of >t with these peoples the future of the world should rest.”