"The Spirit of Anzac."

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15461, 14 December 1915, Page 6

"The Spirit of Anzac."

We leam from our cable messages this morning that a special number of " 'The '"Times' History of tho War" is entitled "The Spirit oi' Anzac." The warm and generous words of appreciation in which the services of the Australians and New Zcalandera are acknowledged are all the more grateful because they appear to be written from a knowledge of the facts and in a spirit of discernment, as well as of sympathy. We who live under the .Southern Cross have cverv right to feel proud of what our sons have done on the far-off hills of Gallipoli. The tributes which have l>een paid to them on all hands by authorities who are naturally more impartial than vre can ever hope to be aro obviously sincere. We are not listening to honeyed words spoken to please u- merely as a matter of policy.

The Australians and New Zealanders

who on tho heights of Gallipoli have won n name for themselves in history have no) only astonished their military commanders and the British people, but they havo astonished ourselves. Wo knew that if ever war broke out thousands of our lads would gladly plunge into the light from a love of adventure and that sporting spirit inbred in the English character which seeks out danger for tho joy of it. Wo wero hardly prepared for the largo number of quiet, home-loving boys with no particular thirst for adventure, no Jove of fighting for fighting's sake, who went to the front after calm and

60be r reflection, simply because they felt it their duty to go. We wero suro that once, in the fray that they would stick to it, there would bo no thought of flinching or turning back. Wo believed that in resourcefulness and in disregard of personal danger they would hold their own. Few of us were prepared to find that theso high-spirited boys, accustomed as a rule to too littlo control at home, would - submit themselves so thoroughly to discipline. Tho

writer in •'' ; The Times' History of the

"War," describing their training in Egypt, noticed in them "tho fighting " man's common-sonso desire to become " an efficient Imperial soldier, triumph-

" ing over the self-dependenco inculcated "by the fine limitless spaces of tho

" Dominions." Tho story of the Southland showed the world how dccplv tho lessons learnt in their training had sunk into their hearts and moulded their characters. "Tho Times" historian describes "the joy, tho eagerness, "tho almost sacred desiro with which " each draft lands on Anzac." Ho refers to the hardships and the ravages of sickness among our troops, and ho points out that few armies have borne so much over such a length of time. Few armies have risen better to tho perilous calls of their commanders.

I We cannot but feci proud that these things oro seen and noted of our sons, and are eet down in honesty and truth. But, after all, what have they dono but show that they are true to tho stock from which they sprang, that they are carrying 0 n the traditions of the race, proud, wo may bo sure, that they are accounted not unworthy in this great war to fight under the same flag as the heroes who fought at -Mons? Thanks to what they have done, New Zealand can now hold up her head in the comity of nations, and will emerge from the war with a truer, deeper feeling of patriotism, and a new sense of the dignity of citizenship of a great Empire. Those who help to bring the Motherland and her daughter States through this great trial, and to keep inviolate British traditions and British honour, will enter, into a great possession which no man can take awav from them.

They will have the lasting joy which proceeds from a sense of duty nobly done. They will, as Ruskin says, be "bound by ne\v fidelities to all that " they have saved, by new love to all

" for whom they nave suffered." Is this a light guerdon which is set before tho youth of this country, those who have not already entered for tho prize? With the example of those who havo gone before, surely there is not a man of military age, sound in wind and limb, who is not eager to join tho comrades who have done so well for the Empire, so that he may help them in their task and share in their dory.