WAR HISTORY

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1930, Page 15

WAR HISTORY

AUSTRALIA’S RECORD. Sydney, April 10. It is anticipated that when the last volume of Australia’s war history is completed it will represent eighteen years’ writing. The was started in 1919, and, according to the official historian (Mr. €. E. W. Bean) another six years will elapse, before it i« finished. Thi history of Australia's part in the war has 1 required a Jong and painstaking. research to give an accurate statement.. It began when the A.I.F. “reporter” made an effort to obtain facts in the trenches from survivors when their memories were fresh. Mr. Bean began there, and then the long process of checking and discarding statements that were not confirmed or possible of confirmation. His battlefield .notebooks are- marked in three colours, providing his private cypher to the credulity of tlie witnesses. On many occasions the records of enemy units .that were opposite the* Australians on certain dates have been, most valuable: in clinching facts that .otherwise lacked confirmation.

The historian is ndw engaged on the fourth volume, dealing with 1917. It covere four of the biggest periods of fighting in which the A.I.F. was engaged —the retirement of the Germans from the Somme to the Hindenberg Line; the two battles of Bullecourt, and the attack on Lagnicourt; Messincs; and the third battle of Ypree. So much Homeric fighting took place in these engagementfl that Mr. Bean admits that this volume has taken more rewriting and compression than any that have preceded it. He estimates that it will take him two and a half years each to complete the two volumes that will complete his work. Volupie seven of the history will not be the least interesting of the. series. This is being written by Professor William, Scott, and will deal. with, happenings in Australia throughout the war. ■Jt. is, expected that? there will he some interesting revelations, ■ for so much ...of what did happen has been kept a close secret all these years. It will tell how the “nation found the money” for the war, the organisation of supplies, th® purchase ,of ships, the conscription referendums,, and so on. - ■ . It ie of intent to note that German records are-available In the compilation of the., Apstrpliap.,history.