EXTRACTS PROM THE DIGGERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7565, 8 May 1919, Page 2

EXTRACTS PROM THE DIGGERS.

By Captain William Denny M.C. M.P. With an introduction by General Sir W. R. Birdwood, X.C.8., X.C.5.1., K.G.M.G., C.1.E., D.5.0., A.D.C.

I heard a very amusing story of an American lady who in the first few weeks of the war invited a number o£ guests to dinner. Among them was a young man of draft age; one of the nouveau riche class, who was uot disposed to regard the war favourably.

"It does not appeal to me" he said. "I can't realise why we should have come into it. It never will appeal to me." The hostess was much perturbed, but said with a withering smile: "Well, I'm not really surprised. You know, it took the lower classes of England auite twelve months before it appealed to them "

The question raised by the establishment of the Australian Forces —- "Whether universal democracy is cbmpatible with military skill and discipline"—a problem the War has unmistakably solved. The gallant exploits of the men who fought in Gallipoli, Egypt, France and Palestine, have supplied the answer. Australians are not brought up to believe, as many do believe in older countries that an army must be composed of two classes—the officer class and the private class. Nor do they subscribe to the doctrine that Jack is as good as his master; they know Jcck to be sometimes much worse and sometimes much better than his master. It is all ft question of merit and experience and so it not infrequently happens that the employee is tba officer and the employer the private serving under him. But there'is no misunderstanding. The busy commercial or professional man who enlists has .perhaps, but little time to devote to military studies, and when the call of duty cornds he cheerfully settles down to recognise that the man who knows is the man to take command. Thus, during the course of the war, the N.C.O.'s and privates who have paid the supreme penalty have left large fortunes, whilst their officers left, nothing but the credit balance—frequently small enough— in their pay-books.

We have all heard of the polite warning given in certain parts of the Far West, "Gentlemen are requested not to steal the spoons," and I recollect one of the notices posted in a prominent place in the French Club at Ismalia (Suez Canal) read as follows: "It is recalled to the officers that it is expressly forbidden to take away from the cercle objects of any kind belonging to it, such as plates, furniture, counters, etc. Signed, Le Comite."

I remember going to a rest tamp on the north coast of France, where the men obtained a little leisure after an extended period in the line. The O.C. was a genial English major whd was most anxious that everything should be made comfortable for officers and men, and that no needless restrictions should be imposed. He learnt that although gambling was against orders it was quite impossible to absolutely prohibit speculation at cards, and that Australians dearly loved a game in which there was a spice o| speculation. 1 ddiafess, however, fo being a. little surprised to read a notice in the mess room to the following effect: "Gambling in camp is/ strictly prohibited. Officers win therefor© see that the men do not.igamble too heavily." A colonel of niy own division related the instance of a soldier at Po~ zleres who deliberately came out of the front line during an attack, re-i ported himself to headquarters, and said: , "I cannot fight, I'm afraid." % "Do you know the consequences of ycur act " said the colonel. "Yes," replied the man, "but I can't help it." , The demeanour of the man suggested that he had lost his aerve, \ due apparently, in part at least, to want of sleep. The colonel, a ~ery humane man, ordered the man to take a "tot" of rum, to rest and re- j turn to the line: which he did and exhibited quite exceptional bravery) during the subsequent heavy fighting] in the Pozieres sector. It is also on official record that an Australian soldier who in the earlier stages of the war won a V.C., waa later tried by court martial on a charge of desertion amounting to cowardice and was sentenced to ten years penal servitude. This sentence was fortunately afterwards remitted, and the man, "made good" again. The patience of the English people under their existing social conditions is remarkable. All over London there are many beautiful squares planted with shady trees and flowers, intersected with broad walks, provided with an occasional tennis court and enclosed by a forbidding looking fence. Sloane Square, situated in the midst of a densely populated area is one of these squares. I have never seen a single person promenading in Sloane Square or in any of the other squares I passed, and, desiring to inspect the former, 1 found to my astonishment that the gates were locked. It seems that these beautiful open spaces—the lungs of the city— are "for subscribers only," and a taxi driver on the Sloane Square rank told me that only a few old ladies ever entered the Square. It.is quite likely that these ancient and exclusive ladies or the occasional tennis player who patronise the squares may havo little love for joy--1 ous and perhaps rowdy youngsters j (whose fathers and brothers are at the front), who would and should make the Square their playground; lor for the tired workman who would ! and should promenade the Square during his lunch hour. But that the ' 1 community should tolerate the exclusion of the masses for a moment is a handsome tribute to their docile acceptance of social customs and their sacred regard for existing social conditions.