South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-03
CALLS AMERICANS
BLOOD BROTHERS
OF AUSTRALIANS
General Who Commanded
Large Bodies of Yankees
Says They Always
"OeIiVered."

LONDON. Aug. - Australian
and American soldiers are full
blood brothers" in the opinion Of
Lieut. Gen Sir John Monash, COM
mander of the Australian forces in
the war, because the Americans were
never placed in any position, nor
called upon to perform any duty.
when. as the general expressed il
in an independence day speech here.
they did not deliver the goods.
Gen Monash said he first reach
ed this conclusion in the early dawn
of the Fourth of July, 1918, when
for the first time Australian troops,
lighting side by side with the Amer
leans in the Somme sector won the
battle of Hamsl and gave 10 the al
lied arms the first success they had
achieved since the Germans began
their memorable advance on March
.21.
Turning Point OF War.
This battle was the turning point
Of the war" said Gen. Monash. 1T
was a brilliant and unqualified sue
cess. and its effect upon the morale,
both of the enemy ana of our own
men. was electric and startling. II
became the model OF all subsequent
achievements in France, and it
paved the way for the great counter
offensive IN August"
The American troops engaged, the
general said. were 1000 men from
the 33rd division. commanded by
Gen. John Bell The 33rd division
was then undergoing training. Gen.
Mouash said he had asked and OBJ
tanned permission to employ 1000
Of the Americans in the battle of
Hamel, but on the eve Of the battle
the permission was withdrawn.
81 passed a strenuous and excit-
ing period Of two hours" continued
Gen. Monash. 80 far as I could
learn the order originated in some
preparedness for battle of this divi-
s.on.
Delivers Uutimatum.
II could not afford TO have my
battle plans ruined at the last mo-
ment by the withdrawal of a large
fraction Of my assaulting infantry.
so I went to my army commander
and delivered an ultimatum. If the
Americans were not allowed to re-
main in the order OF battle. then the
battle in the morning would be off.
Unless a decision was given by
o'clock that night the battle would
go on with the Americans in it as
planned. We managed to intercept
the communicating chief and he gave
the order, Garry on
Those 1 900 Americans COW
cred themselves with glory, and
/ can pay them no greater COM
plimcnt than by saying that
from that day on our Australian
veterans cOok them To their
hearts as full blood brothers"
Gen. Monash declared that the
131st American regiment Of the 33rd
division. in company with the 18th
Australian brigade, fought a most
gallant and successful series Of ac-
tions which resulted in the capture
OF Chipilly Spur" when the great
Australians and Canadians in the
Somme sector on Aug. s, 1918.
This" he said. made secure my
left flank thereby enabling me to
get astride of the valley Of the SOM
me and hunt the enemy clean out
Of it for 20 miles"
wrecked Hindcnburg Line.
Gen. Monash had under his com
mand in the closing days OF the war
the whole second American army
corps. more than 1000 men OF the
9th and 3Oth American divisions.
This army. he said, overthrow the
Hindenburg defense system at its
most strongly defended point"
The share of the American di-
visions in these operations was
characterized by Gen. Monash
n probably the greatest single
American feat Of arms achieved
I'm the whole war" The opera
tons were completed on oct. =,
ne said. and II was on that night
that 1.-THE Germans threw UP
the sponge and declared their
Willingness TO make peace on
our terms"
Il have been asked over and over
again 20 express my opinion OF the
American troops Gen Monash
continued Il am not going 10 be
so foolish as 20 attempt 10 do so
here now. / am only going 10 say
In your own expressive vernacular
that at all times and in every place
where I have used them. the Amer
lean troops delivered the goods
\ Lasting Friendship.
You may well believe that this
close association in war OF such
large aodies OF Australians and
Americans has erected very real
and lasting friendship between our
Two democracies