OFF TO THE FRONT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8464, 1 June 1916, Page 3

OFF TO THE FRONT.

SEVENTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS ENTERTAINED. There was a largo gathering at the Drill Hall yesterday afternoon on the occasion of che farewell to the Ashburton quota of the Seventeenth Reinforcements. Thirty-eight men comprising the quota were entertained by a numoor of Allen ton ladies. His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith) presided.

The. Rev. Father O'Donnell said that the men who were now going away were doing so to assist in upholding the ideals of civilisation, and to eliminate the display of brute force as shown by the Germans. They were also going to uphold the principles of right and justice. Britain and her Allies were not engaged in the present conflict for the purpose of adding to territory or for financial gain. The speaker referred to tho enormous amount which was being expended daily to carry on the present conflict. Tho sum of £5,000,000 was daily being spent in the upkeep of the Army and Navy, and such figures would almost stagger imagination. Those enormous sums were being expended so that Germany should not have tho light to subjugate other races. They were engaged in the war so that other races should be allowed to live up to their own ideals, and not to be humiliated by Germans. They were also fighting out of respect for scraps of paper wherein nations had pledged their, faith. The Germans had b?-oken that breach of faith in the case of Belgium, and the country had been reduced to desolation, the homes destroyed, and wives ajid families reduced to a state worse than slavery. Tho men who were going into camp were preparing to uphold the liberties of civilisation, and to enforce such ideals. He felt confident that the' Ashburton men would ant up to tho high standard set them by the Auzacs. During their time of training in camp, the men would be brought up to a stntu of perfection which would fit them to take their places alongside veterans of the Anzacs whom they would meet in France. They would also bo fighting side by side with historic regiments of the British Army. Tho speaker said that General Birdwood had advocated the necessity of discipline. In camp they would learn to understand the necessity of discipline so that they would act as a. compact body. They would have to lean; to lay £-side their own ideas for the common good. They would, at it were, have to become clay in the hands of their officers, in order to make themselves fit for the work which they would later- be called on to perform. The more they learned of the value of discipline, the more they would fit .themselves to do. their share to safci guard the liberties tof civilisation, and of the human, race. The speaker said he •wanted to take the opportunity of referring '%o a personal matter. During the looming , he 'hud.■.mentioned to a resident thax he had been asked to say a. IVw words in farewell to the Ashburion. boys. The resident had apparently' mentioned the matter to another resicieut, who replied " that in the face of recent-events in Dublin it ' would be better for Father o'Don.uell to keep in the background." The speaker contended that; every, man was entitled to his own opinion, but at the same tiiil'c. this wis not a, time .for lvcvimiiiiiuoiis. it was-, a- time to lay asidi; such personal ideas and to -unite for the destruction of Prussian miiitaryism. it was not a .time for introducing side issues. For his part, when a man had hit him he always tried to hit back, although it might .be contrary to wh;U is stipulated in the Book with which they were all familiar, find perhaps not a I together quite in keeping with the cloth which lie wore. However, he did not think the reference to turning the other cheek had universal application. When one had the intermits of .Ireland at heart, it was time to come forward ;md disclaim any sympathy with tii.it insane piece of lunacy in Dublin which reciMit events had disclosed. He would, however, go so far as to say that that rebellion had never caused the British Government as much embarrassment as some of the strikes in coal mines and amongst munition workers, ami yet they looked upon the iatttv as f, 'matter "of course. He contended that the outbreak in Dublin did not represent the overwhelming majority of the Jrish population. These men were revolutionary Socialists, and did not cure a tinker's cuss for Ireland except for their own ideals. Larkin and Connolly were not Irish by birth or by training. The men taking part in the rebellion were simply men in the nature of what would be termed "Red Feds," led by .Larkin and Connolly. To condemn the whole of the Irish people for the action of these few irresponsible individuals was most unfair, and unreasonable. Ho took this as a personal matter, because he was jealous of the honour of his country and his ra-cc. He maintained that it was most unreasonable to condemn the Irish for the action of what might be termed a few lunatics. He asked them tr> judge the_ Irish by the part they were taking in the present war, and by the Murphy's, Burkes and O'Sherte that they would meet fighting in the British regiments. (Applause). The speaker, in conclusion, stated that those who wero left behind would watch with interest the doings of the men who } were leaving New Zealand. In. wishing tho men God-speed, he stated that just as they had honoured the men who had gone before, vso they would honour those who were now departing. Their, memory would always remain in the minds of those- who were left behind, and they would pray for tho>> success. He hoped they would all : come back ■safe, but if any of them had to lay thoir ashes in a foreign iland, they in New Zealand would ever be proud of this fair land that had nrorTucfd such good men. (Applause.)'" ' Mr W.H. Collins .also wished the mou every success, and hoped th-n they would all come- back - safe. Ho fell" confident that they would acquit themselves as men and uphold the honour of their country. He reminded th<--m of the necessity of discipline, ■and the doing of their duty for King and country.' lie contended that it was n great privilege, apart from the of war, to be able to do our fluty for the rising generation and for generations to come.

The Mayor, on bohnlf of tlin town and district, thanked the men for having volunteered their services and vvished them God-speed. He stated that thoso present were indebted to Mr nnd "Mrs J. Tucker nnd a largo iwnbor ol' Allouton ladies for the refreshments. Ho also risked the men going away whether tlvy had any dependents in need of assistance, and if so to :ulvise. the Patriotic Committee. He reminded them that the funds had been subscribed in the County to assist

those in need, and it was their own fault if those in need did not avail themselves of that fund. He did not want the impression to go abroad that Ashlnirton and County residents were not prepared to do all they could to assist those.who were going and had gone to fight for them. At the invitation of tho Mayor, cheers wevo then given for the recruits, Mr and Mrs J. Tucker, and tho ladies. The men were then allowed an interval to say farewell to their friends before the. whistle sounded to fall in. Headed by tho Citizens' Defence- Corps and Salvation Army Bands, they then marched to tho station, and were cheered at various corners as they marched along. At the railway station a large crowd took port in the final farewells, and as tljp train steamed out there was considerable cheering. The following are the names of the men who left last evening:—D. W. Anderson, G. Ashton, F. P. Body, T, H. . Bennett, A. R. Baker, C. McCrcnor, I T. H. L. Cross, D. Campbell, H. Cul-• verhouse, S. Culverhouso, P. L. Cullen, I W. Di«'by, M. Dahue, R. J. ■F. Duff, T. M. Devano, J. T. J. Ellen, G. A. W. Foster, J. Flynn. M. A. G'.ithrio, H. Harrison. T. H. Lusk. J. W. Martin. H. H. Mitchell, J. Mnidens. R. F. I Moore, J. A. McGinn, A. McQuillcon,} W. Rattray. F. F. Rose. J. Roberts, . T. Sulliv.iii,' J. L. Strange, W. A. Stone. W. E. Stirgrss, Q. Trethewey, [ H. West and R. Young. I