Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-24
GLORY WON BY AUSTRALIANS
IN DRIVE AGAINST GERMANS
Sturdy Men From the Antipodes, Resentffu i
ofDiscipline, Show Mettle When
heTest Comes.

Another called to the Germans:
They aren't as sweet as eau de
cologne, but we like them better than
your shra pnel and high explosives"
The British officers are worried lest
the British public, hearing of the large
volume of gas shells, will insist that
the British begin the use OF weapon
which seems wholly ds-lselieved in by
the army experts.
Counted "Har-s Mt"
"Pozieres viii he a hard nut to
crack everybody has been saying in
the last few days. as he locked at
the sticks of trees and the ruins of the
knoll above Ovillers. That task was
given to the Australians this morning
oth-shaven, clear-c of feature
there is no mistaking the Australian
at the front. He wears slouch hat
while all the rest of the British wear
caps. rising sun is his badge. His
ways are democratic; his pay is the
highest of any soldier in Europe which
ne spends freely. Open-air men, with
plenty Of initiative, some say that the
discipline of the Australian is poor.
ASKED if he did not know it was the
duty of a soldier to salute a superior
off1cer. an Australian replied: IT am a
nshter, not a soldier, and absent
minded"
There are many like stories The
men had much to learn of military
lorna lily. Some of the military critics
Sald the Australians were all right for
Gaiiipoli. but not for this kind of work
against the Germans. Today they had
their first big test in France The
free-limbed sons of the southern cross,
charging from their trenches on their
venture in the darkness against the
did not have much to do at the first
German trench. or. at least, they did it
quickly. Then out of the confusion of
night illumination she'll flashes
tie news from other points of attack,
that the Australians were past their
objective, and then on the main street
OF FoIieres. which is the main road to
Bapaume. and hugging close the Ger
mans on the other side of the street,
so that the German artillery could not
fire on them.
Have Confidence in Birdie"
People had said that either the Aus
tralians would get there or be killed,
and the surprising thing. the wounded
say, is how few We're killed
Birdie had his plans made all right"
say the Australians He always
knows about what he is doing"
Birdie" is the nickname of Lieut.
otii- I'iTd"oOO, IlelF COMMANDER, WhOm
they would follow through any hot
place. His fellowship with them con-
ceals steel discipline.
The Australians met the Hath Ger
man Division, which had been rushed
from Ypres, and prisoners taken. in
Guiding 100 in body, say frankly
that the Australians came too quickly
for them. At other points over the
four-mile front the British attacked
at the same hour. at some points for
diversion, at some points in earnest
The hottest fighting was in that ter
rible region. the Delville woods. the
Trones woods and Guillemont village,
In GuilInont and the old second-line
trenches, which had been strengthened
and supported with infantry and ar
tillery reinforcements as the vital
point Of the present German defenses
The British rushed the village front
from the Trones wood and the flank
The battalion on the flank got in, but
the attackers on the front were re-
pulsed and the successful battalion
was forced back, but it gained foot
ing, which it still holds.