ANZAC ROUSED.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144858, 9 December 1915, Page 7

ANZAC ROUSED.

KITCHENER’S VISIT. SPONTANEOUS OUTBURST OF AUSTRALIANS. (By Captain C. E. W. Bean, official press representative with the Commonwealth Expeditionary Forces.) GABA TEPE, Nov. —. Earl Kitchener visited Auzac to-day. Very few even of tho senior officers had any previous knowledge of his visit, hut tho moment he stepped ashore tho men tumbled to it. and a remarkable scene occurred. I low tho knowledge could spread so fast I do not know, but by tin- time Earl Kitchener had reached the end of tho pier tho men were tumbling like rabbits out of every dug-out on the hillside, jumping over obstacles straight for the beach. Australians do not cheer readily, but as Earl Kitchener, accompanied by Generals Birdwood, Maxwell and others passed by tho crowd along tho beach, the men spontaneously called for cheers, and gavo them again and again. It was purely a soldiers’ welcome, Earl Kitchener many times turned to the men. “The King has asked me to tell you how splendidly ho thinks you have'done,” ho said. “Y'ou have dime excellently well,” ho added, “better even than I thought you would.” Without any pause, Earl Kitchener walked straight up-the steepest road in tin Anzac area direct from the beach to tho highest point in tho old Anzac area. Y’ou can follow its windings from the beach, ami in less than ton minutes you could see a tall figure stalking by the side of a little figure, which all Anzac knows so well, right at tho top of tho steep ascent. Most persons arrive at that summit breathless, and most certainly expected a respite on the way, but Earl Kitchener went straight up without a halt, and, arriving at tho top, immediately spoke to tho brigadiers assembled there. Without pausing to stop for breath he wont through to the front firing trench on tho neck of where tho Light Horse charged. Tho troops could scarcely restrain from cheering him, although tho Turks in places were within twenty yards. Tho Anzac staff had some moments of - considerable anxiety as the tall head, with the staff officer’s cap, went stalking down certain awkwarrd corners, whore ho was all too visible to Turkish snipers. Ho constantly spoke to tho men. Australian soldiers, fortunately, generally manage to keep their heads on those occasions.

Passing a small canteen, which was carried on under the greatest difficulties by the splendid efforts of tho Sydney Y.M.C.A., and has been of great help to the British as well as tho Australian troops, ho asked one private standing near, "Hallo! A Y.M.C.A. licre, is there? What can you got there?” "Nuts,” answered tho man laconically. “Yes, but, I mean, what can you get there generally?” repeated Karl Kitchener. "Nothing,” said tho man. Earl Kitchener burst into a laugh, and passed on. He surveyed the whole of tho old Anzac position from a good look-out point. Those with him noticed his quick grasp of tho country. Ho loft Anzac two hours after arriying, having soon almost every important officer, and taken a thorough look at the position. As ho was leaving ho called up ono of thirty or forty officers to whom ho had been speaking during his visit. “Well, So and So,” ho said, addressing this officer, a medical authorin', by name, “I think I can promise you your first and your second request, and wo will see about the third.”