Australia in the World War. — The declaration of war on the part of Eng land against Germany reached Australia by cable early in the day on Aug. 5, 1914.
Parliament was not in session, but the spirit of the people rose at once to the great occasion and the Prime Minister, Hughes, offered the government at home an immediate draft of 20,000 men. At the first call a much greater number re sponded and nation-wide training was begun. Before any troops were ready for embarkation the national spirit had stimulated the enrollment of a further contingent of 10,000 men. The first em barkation for Europe by way of Egypt and the Suez Canal the following end of November had already been preceded by naval operations against the enemy in southwestern waters.
With the co-operation of the New Zealand troops, the first contingent of which was formed about the same time as that of Australia, the German wire less chain in the Pacific had been de stroyed and Germany deprived of all her holdings in that part of the world. In the latter part of August German Samoa was taken, and by the end of September New Pommern (New Britain). During the formation of the first contingent in Australia national patriotism rose to a fever pitch, a spirit which was after ward splendidly reflected in the perform ance of her sons in the trench and field. Much of their fighting was to be done in connection with the New Zealanders, the combined forces being known under the popular name of Anzacs, i. e., Australia New Zealand Army Corps. The nation stood behind its troops. From the day of the announcement of war contribu tions came pouring in. Several million dollars were at once donated, besides large contributions of horses and gen eral supplies by rich Australians—of whom there is a large contingent. A most remarkable feature of the national situation was that the enthusiasm of the hour so carried away a large number of German residents in the country that they at once became naturalized and pledged their support to their adopted country. A change of ministry in the month following the outbreak of war did not in any way affect the general sit uation. The Laborites, who succeeded the Liberals, continued the forwarding of war preparations with equal enthusiasm, although the two parties continued to oppose one another in Parliament with unabated vigor.
Following the first contingent, more than 20,000 men which the nation sent to Europe in November (1914), a second expeditionary force of 25,000 was em barked a month later. Meantime a third force of 20,000 men had been called for, and was being rapidly recruited. A popu lar call for all able-bodied men to enlist for the firing-line and for all others to join rifle clubs was being responded to enthusiastically. Public speakers were stirring up the people everywhere.
In the spring of 1915 the Australian troops first made themselves a name in the history of the war by taking part in the attempt to force the passage of the Dardanelles in the latter part of April. Landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula "they carried the fortified heights in the face of a raking Turkish fire, the positions won at that time being held through out the campaign, which was character ized by consistent courage and resource fulness." This action received high praise from the British command. It was soon an nounced that Australia would be able to send 100,000 more men across seas. In less than a year up to July, 1915, the Commonwealth had furnished approxi mately 100,000 troops. Australia was also foremost from the first in Belgium relief, Melbourne, in April and May of 1915, contributing £80,000 as the proceeds of two entertainments, while Sydney and its province raised nearly 1500,000.
It also came at once to the front in the furnishing of munitions to the general cause, being able to announce, as early as June following the outbreak of war, its readiness to begin to co-operate. Offers had indeed been made of ammunition for eighteen-pounders to Great Britain as early as the previous September. In Feb ruary of the following year, 1916, the question of conscription became impor tant. Premier William M. Hughes was appointed a member of the Canadian Privy Council and came to Canada and conducted a vigorous campaign in its favor as afterward in England. The Labor party in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, however, was opposed, and after a sharp struggle the more radical elements failed and the measure was defeated by popular vote on Oct. 28. Australia had by this time 320, 000 enlisted men in the ranks. Before the close of the war more than 362,000 vol unteers had been sent to the firing-line. They entered the - war on the British front in April, 1916, and soon acquired a name for a dauntless courage which in spired the older troops. In the battle of Messines Ridge following the defeat of the Germans at Ypres in June they took a prominent and notable part in the of fensive of combined English, Irish, and New Zealand troops which "within a few minutes captured the entire first line po sitions on a ten-mile front." In the great battle of Arras, May, 1916, they distin guished themselves by capturing Bulle court (May 13-17) after heavy fight ing. They were also conspicuous in the Allied drives, notably, besides those men tioned, at Mouquet Farm and Pozieres. In the advance of the Germans on the salient which threatened Amiens in the spring of 1918 the five Australian di visions played an important part. At two important points, Dcrlancourt and Morlancourt, before their line could be properly organized and before their guns had all arrived, they were persistently attacked by the Germans and yet al ways succeeded in driving them back with heavy loss. The Australian forces engaged in those important were old and well-tried troops who were of notable value all through the engage ment which resulted in the repulse of the Germans.
In the first four years of the war Australia raised six war loans. From August, 1914, to June 30, 1918. her war expenditure amounted to 184,598,097 pounds sterling, of which £159,895,938 was from loans, and the balance revenue. The sum advanced by the Imperial Gov ernment amounted to £47,500,000.
In addition a Wheat Commission was organized under Premier Hughes with a regular service to England that con tributed large supplies during the term of its operation. On the sea the Austra lians took a glorious part in the en gagement off Dogger Bank—the prin cipal naval event of the war—under Ad miral Beatty Jan. 24, 1915, and later in the Battle of Jutland Bank. Out of a total population of six million people the Australia-New Zealand Army Corps, up to January, 1918, had contributed more than 448,000 men, of the very best ma terial of which the Allied fighters were composed.
The conditions following the conclusion of peace in 1919-1920 were the same as prevailed in other countries of the world. There were labor troubles, and for a period in 1919 the industry of the coun try was practically tied up as a result of strikes. Alleged attempts of the Bol shevists to spread propaganda in 1919 resulted in serious disturbances. Aus tralia was strongly represented at the peace negotiations in Paris, and the Commonwealth was given mandatory powers over island territories formerly the property of Germany. These include New Guinea (formerly German New Guinea), Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands.