Item 02: Arthur Henson Smith letters, 8 January 1917-19 August 1919 - Page 7
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[Page 7]
below the drawing is: "Shall Australia do it". Australia has done it . That chap has waved his rifle & so brought discredit on his race. You cannot have a full idea of what it means to most of us over here who rightly think there is nothing so glorious & so splendid as our baby Australian Army which has without doubt done well, impugn it who may. Owing to the inevitible wastage it will undoubtedly mean that one of our divisions will have to be cut out & those comprising it will have to reinforce the rest. If it is the particular division that I am in that has to go then half my enthusiasm & spirit goes with it. Far rather would I wear the distinguishing colors which are at present on my sleeves than I would wear a Military Cross and that's no mean boast. Quite right, Pater, the result of the Referendum is a standing disgrace to the country & a stigma that will stick. I've already expressed myself to you in this matter so you know my feelings. One thing only would hit me harder and that is an acceptance of a peace which does not embody or ensure all that which I and my millions of comrades started out to obtain. Now that you mention it I can quite see that it is eminently possible that all that cut-the-painter business of 7 or 8 years ago was part of the feindish German propaganda. It never occured to me before that all that