VOLUNTEERS FOR SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 1 April 1899, Page 5

VOLUNTEERS FOR SAMOA.

NEW ZEALAND TAKES A HAND

ACTION BY THE PREMIER.

OFFER OF TROOPS FROM AUCK-

LAND

PERMANENT FORCE AND VOLUNTEERS AS A LANDING PARTY.

THE TUTANEKAI DELAYED.

SERVICES OF AUCKLAND NO. 1

BATTALION OFFERED.

The present crisis in Samoa and the ineffectual efforts of the J'owers to keep order there and prevent bloodshed, have attracted considerable attention in New Zealand and this city, which is not surprising considering' the commercial interests which Auckland particularly has in connection with Samoa, and also considering- that Auckland is the nearest cable station to Samoa for the receipt or transmission of news concerning the. vexed affairs of that Group. As wlil be seen below, a definite step has now been taken by the New Zealand Government in connection with Samoa, and an offer has been made by the lit. Hon. R. J. Seddon to send troops from this colony down to Apia to act as a landing party in conjunction with the Anglo - American forces, in order to drive back the insurgent forces of Mataafa and restore order. But while the Premier has decided in . his office in Wellington to offer a force of Armed Constabulary, or as they are now known Permanent Militia, for use in Samoa, the officer in command of the Auckland Rifle Volunteers, Major T .L. Murray, conceived a similar idea,. and the I result was an offer to the Government of the No 1 Battalion, now in camp at Epsom, should .Its assistance be required in the islands. OFFER OF AUCKLAND VOLUNTEERS. The first news of the tendering of the services of volunteers from Auckland was made known yesterday about mid-day at the Easter Encamp- • vert tvt • v< i'.n dock. Epsom. During- the morning" Major T. L. Murray, officer commanding the No. I Auckland- Rifle Battalion, considering it would be wise to offer the services of his command to the Government for use in an emergency, consulted Colonel PolePenton, Commander of the Forces, and Lieut.-Colonel J. H. Banks, officer commanding the Auckland Volunteer District, and these officers approved jof the services of the Battalion being tendered. • These officers then went to the telephone, and at once transmitted the formal offer of the No. 1 Battalion for service in Samoa to His Excellency the Governor, Lord Eanfurly .who is.' by reason of his vice-regal office the Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Forces. The Governor thereupon telegraphed the offer to the Premier. In the afternoon the news of the services of the Battalion being tendered was spread in the camp, and caused a little excitement. ■ ■ |

At the 'conclusion of the afternoon parade Major • Murray called the officers of the Battalion to the front and informed them of what he had done. He explained that there was apparent need of assistance in the way of a landing force at Samoa, and though it was a good opportunity for the Auckland volunteers to .show their willingness to serve British interests, and said he felt sure he could answer for the Battalion.

'Have I done right in offering the battalion?' asked Major Murray in conclusion.

'Yes,- sir,' was the unanimous and hearty response of the officers of the eight companies comprising the battalion, and strong hopes were expressed that the services of the force would be accepted.