THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2221, 6 August 1914, Page 6

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

POLITICAL PARTIES UNITED,

GOVERNMENT TAKE ACTION i The House, of Representatives, which had, adjourned in order that members might hear the Governor's proclamation, resumed at 8.45 p.m. ! The ' Prime, Minister announced that ho had an .important. resolution'-.to. move, arid, after' consulting withi; the. Leader of the Opposition,:decided to do bo forth-, 'with.' "The resolution, was:— .' \ .''"That in view-of the .fact.that Great : Britain has became involved in war ,' with Germany, this House approves of the necessary steps being. token by . the.New Zealand' Government to have; in'-,readiness an'.espeditiondiy force."! "It will be. .recollcctcd," ;the : Prime Minister-.continued,: "that.' .when. I','.was. dealing with: this .subject.', yesterday,l read .a message from. the Imperial authorities to the New Zealand .(ftverriment,, in, ' whioh;; they ': expressed . theropmidh.. that the-, expeditionary .'force which; had been offered, subject ito.- the approval of Parliament, by the.'',, New Zealand Government,; to ; the Imporial Government was not 'required at present) and I called attention to -the- .significance, : of. the. two words!-fat present," which .seemed to me ti indicate.: that;-it ; might bo required in tho-riot far, distant future.. I do mot say-that we have arrived, at,, that stage yetj'.'or.--,that-,it. will come, .but we must; be\prepared. To-day the- following'.mcis-' sage came : from His.* Majesty's Government:—. ■ ■■'•' ; ,- . -, .- "Though' there; seems to- be no im- " 'mediato necessity, for, ainjr request .on oar part for. an expeditionary, force . from New Zealand, I ; think. that your . Ministers-, would: be .wise,' in. view of'.. ,thpir s gencroris offer, to .'take all logis- ': latiyo-orid other steps by.!which; they, would be; enabled .without . delay to . .provide .such a. force incaSe it .'should" , 'hereafter be required." j | .-•••' • ! I 'feel, Sir, rests upon the .Government arid upon my-'-self in moving this motion!'- but we have • our duty to'our .eonntry-and our duty to ' the Empire to do, and it is quite possible —I won't, go the length of saying it is ' such ah-' expeditionary force, as is suggested Here will-be required by. t'he Imperial .Government. .So. far, no: definite-. ste]K have .been 'taken with regard, to the raising of the force, but the motion -requires, very little elaboration or explanation from me. •', • ! The, Time for Action. , ' I would like, to say, how thoroughly I: agree with-the opinion expressed,by someone yesterday that, this is a time for. ac-. tion'.rather than for .speech-making. We propose -to .mobilise :part of , the Terr'i-. torials—l am not able to ' say at the -pre-sent-moment exactly /.how. many, probably. seven or. eight thousand-men—either for service in. this .country or for service abroad, as the case .may.be; -We shall ask these men - to volunteer" from the Territorials either for service in this country or for servico abroad. They will volunteer for service'on the: clear understanding that they-may be'required, perhaps in: India, perhaps' in Egypt, perhaps on ;the . Continent- of. Europe..My own opinion: is'that in .case of the services of tin 'expeditionary force -from 'this country being accepted they will bo required to take the place of , regulars income place wheregarrison • duty is required at the present-.time.. : That is'my; opinion; I may be ' absolutely : wrong..'".Whatever happens, I feel srire- our men will give as good an acou'nt of themselves, if they aie required, as they, did in the d&k days of the . South Afriban wax.. (Hear, Hear.) With regard to numbers,' judging from the experience, of the laSt / few; days,. there will , riot be : the-very slightest difficulty in' obtaining any number- that we, may . require. I have.had scores of letters, arid the: Defence Minister* has had' the same . of letters' and '• '■ tele. p r ratns froin every part of New Zealand from men willing and anxious to volunteer for. sorvice .anywhere they may. bo ■ , "Fighters.to a Man;" ~ ■ So far as the Native Taoe is concerned, . and the' Native race are .fighters to . a man, I - could to-morrow ! securo many thousands of young'fallows of that race who ,aro anxious. to fight for the country and. the Empirfe either here or anywhere else. ' In saying, that , ! ,am, of course, aware that. the Imperial regulations'may prevent any inem.bers-.'of the Maori-raco from-taking service abroad—l am afraid that is - the case—but there is no reason why their services should not be utilised in ; .the country of their birth. - • . The Price of Peace. , I do, not : think it is necessary,' Mr. Speaker, to say moro in support of the motion. . I,feel.certain .that the motion will commend itself to overy member 'of the House; I feel certain that it will be agreed _ to' unanimously. As I said this afternoon, we have arrived at a very serious crisis not only in the history of this country, tut ,in ' the: history of the Em- . pirc. We are all anxious for peace, wo all detest war, but we do not want peace unconditionally. (Hear, Hear.) We do not want peace at. any ' price; we;, want peace with honour, arid I hope and, believe that the, war which has just broken oiit-will not last long, I hbpe that within a. comparatively, few montlLS—it would be too much to hope weeks—the Imperial authorities Will be able, to announce to .us that honour obtains right through:, the British Empire. (Hear, Hear.)' "Union in Spirit arid Deed," ■ Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of. the Opposition): Sir, this is- a time frlien. there , is-,nb'Tobm:for division of opinion on ths important proposal in this-motion. " It is in times of stress and difficulty that a practical oiler of assistance, even-though it may not be.acquired, is valued, as this will be valued, not only on account of the prowess of tho men liii may bo required to go, but on account of the moral effect which it will, convey to all portions of the world that realise what a widely scattered Empire wo belong to. It-is only by solidarity,- by union in spirit and in deed, that wc can.-hope to make our position felt against-what.is going on upon the Continent. . As far as I am concerned, .whatever" .arrangements the, Government rfiny decide to make in regard !o dispatching-an expeditionary force, will i rccoivc loyal and iiearty support from mc, as 1 am quite certain-'it will, from every ' member, of the Opposition Party; (Hear, Hear.) I want to say 1' realise that.'so ; ,/ai" as any force from this country, iscon-

cerned, it will bo a volunteer force. I also recognise that whatever the number may bo that tho Government fixes, it will be over-subscribed by those loyal and devoted men in this country who are not Jingoists, and not anxious to participate in war, but are anxious to support the prestigo, and power, of the country > to which wo are all proud to belong. (Hear, Hear.) Mr. Speaker then put the motion, and it was carried unanimously, in silence. The Houso adjourned immediately afterwards until to-day.' ■ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO SIT IN CASE OF URGENT LEGISLATION. When the Legislative Council resumed its sitting after the meeting addressed by His Excellency- the, Governor, the Hon. H.. D. BeH read the messages received and dispatched by His 'Excellency;• and- a motion -was carried'that they, should be recorded in the journals of the Council. ' On the motion of Mr. Bell, the Council then passed a similar motion to that carried by tho House of with regard to the possibility of an expeditionary force boing required. Mr. Bell then moved that, ',ho 'Council should ndjouirn. till 2.30 p.m. to-day. He informed the Council that it was necessary that tho Council .should be in «s constant-session as tho exigencies of tho Dominion, and indeed, of the Empire, might require. Ho proposed, therefore, to ask the Speaker on eaclß'day when tho Council eat to re-, sume .the chair on tho ringing of the bell, and ho desired that the Council's, work of tho day should not be ccnoluded.until,'• say, a quarter to 10 each night. In that way, and at that timo. they would probably know .whether the House of Representatives reqjirod their assistance in any immediate legislation, or whether ..the House anticipated its adjournment. He. trusted that lie bad the support of 'the hon. members. '.Applause.) He proposed to ask the Council to go on .with their business, just as they,had.a duty to do, and without regard to the excitement.or anxiety that must move many of them: He asked the Council to agree in quietness and confidence in-their strength, and to allow the work of the country to continue,' just as if there was np such great disturbance of tlie. public peace, and only so lonj -as it was found possible to carry on their business without disturbance, 8000 MEN WANTED. . STATEMENT BY'THE DEFENCE ' .MINISTER, '' Tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen) made a brief statement last, evening on, the subject, of- the military measures-now in train.; . Members of the 1 Territorial -Force who were willing 'in; the first'• instance to serve in New Zealand, and who'also would volunteer.: to go abroad if the Government required them to do so, would be -called upon to como out for mobilisation.-; "We are not.goinjf to mobilise the. whole of the Territorial Force," the Minister continued, "although .we, should be justified 'in doing so, as war is declared, but I-'don-t -think' that it is necessary. At present wo are going to mobilise a certain." number, who .would be prepared' to .go' outside! if -we* wanted them to.' They will be mobilised in the four districts., v. 1 \ . The Minister added that approximately eight thousand men .would bo .called out, and they would bo assented at some suitable spot-in each military district. Training would proceed all the timo. In the event of' an expeditionary force being organised, if the Territorials offorifiji. wero, riot sufficient members of the Reserve arid men who .had seen service '[before would, be called upon. . "Very likely," remarked Mr. AJlon, ."we may want ..some of those who have , seen service, before, , but wo must give our Territorials ■ their charico. "j\s far as .human foresight can judge, we are making every preparation. I am at work' now upon tho cost of the whole thing, and I hope tliat if we have to send any troops away the whole tiling will be thoroughly and completely ofganised in every, detail of equipment, finance, and everything else." - ■• . , As to tho nature of the projected foTce —whetlior it-would consist, of mounted men or not—the Minister said that it Stould .be -ofo mixed-;composition, . but .ho deolined to go into.'dotails. ' ; STATEMENT BY GENERAL : GODLEY ' '■ " ' . ... WHAT THE COUNTRY WANTS. - MEN AND HORSES. . ' ' . -Tlie Commandant of'the New. Zealand Force 3 (General Kir Alexander Godley) at headquartors yesterday, afternoon made a stateuiont regarding the position in Now Zealand to . tho. Press representatives Who .were invited to meet him there. General Godley said that kixgo numbers of applications for servico iji tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force,were being received ,by . the Prime Minister (the Hoh',':W.'F. ! Massey), the Minister of .Defence, and at the Defence headquarters, and tbese; applications w--;iv .(vuisiiiffo." 4<nornKy« ainount of. additional work. "Theso applications," tho Commandant continued, "cannot lie dealt with in this office, and J. .will be glad if you will : cause' the- fol-: lowing information to be circulated in the Press. AH carididates must be 1 recommended by the officer commanding tho local Territorial unit.. If they are serving in the Tenitorial .force they shriuld apply through their,squadron, battery, -or company oommariding officer.- ,If they aro not serving in the Territorial Force, they should apply to tho.Defence Office, or to. tho nearest Territorial . .commanding officer. Other, - offers of assistance should be communicateddirect to the officer commanding the district. ; .- . Horses 1 Wanted. - "The questiori of-horses .; is one about ,which there was some difference in connection with the contingents at EKo time of the South African war. Some horses were privately owned,' and complications i therefore ensued. At the present stage of partial mobilisation . which .has been i'ordered, men will bring their Own'Tibr'ses, >nd they will remain, their property, but if there is at.any. time any. question, of. ithese volunteers who are now , being mobilised leaving -New ..Zealand, it rim'st !be understood that every horse in; the force, going'abroad will be the absolute property of the .Government, to be used | as the Government- chooses... Tho Goyern!nient..will be very glad of . gifts of horses ;for any force:wliich may leave NewZca- ' land under the abovej conditions. Horses : not presented ,will .'be paid for, by the' Government. ■ Acceptable - Gifts. "Numerous inquiries have been mado as -to the direction in which help and apsistance to the Government can best be given in'the. event of the New Zealand forces going abroad, ruul as these offers of assistance will no doubt increase, it may be liseful to havb it made known that gifts of the following are the most suitable Horses, as above (either riding horses or half and three-quarter' draught horses), motor-cars and motor - bicycles, and ft considerable number of ordinary bicycles will- be required, saddlery, draught harness, grooming kit, blankets, stout arid serviceable boots of regulation pattern, strong leather braces and belts, canvas slioe3, underclothing, Bocks, flannel shirts, Cardigan vests, towels, handkerchiefs, hold-alts', coritoiniu knife;- l'-irk, and spooii), shaving outfits,, housewives (containing needles, buttons, etc.), bootlaces, hairbrushes, combs, clasp; knives, field glasses. The Mobilisation. "The partial, taobilisation which the Government lias , decided .upon "involves "calliiist tip at each district headquarters .of voftihte'ers from the vat-ions arnis, who will only be accepted on the understanding that they. ..will .be prepared ,to be utilised abroad, should their services later be needed. .Men must volunteer for the nrm of 'the service to which tho'y ;now belong, or have belonged, . Preference will be givon to Territorials,t and to those who havo served in the Territorials, and those with previous military experience, who are of. the ago of twenty years or over, and the preference will rnn in tho order named. These men nro called out now as the number which the Government considers necessary for ensuring tho defence of the country, and it would bo misleading to call tlicra an expeditionary -force."Asked to slate the cxtciit to which tho Territorials have been called out. General Godley said: "The full strength of the Garrison Artillery, is 'mobilised conipulfsorilv by proclamation, of the Governor, and ii now in the forts, Volunteers from

tlie Coast Defence Infantry havo been called out ■ to protect certain 'vulnerable points, and the proportion of the Territorial forces which the Government considers necessary for defensive' purposes at this juncture havo been called out as volunteers/' Imperial Commissions. Colonel BraitWaito, who was present, .added tliat tho War Offico had offered fifteen- Imperial commissions for New-Zea-landors, and that tlie. Government had agreed that the names might bo called , for, applications to be sent now to tho officers commanding districts. Tho dato of the examination for suitability has not yet been fixed Qn, but will, of course, be at an early date. Tho examination will be in two parts—the military and tho purely education test. The applicants must, bo over 20 years, under 25 years, unmarried, must pass tho medical examination, and be recommended by the officer commanding tho .district as in every way suitable for the commission. Tho sending in of the names, accompanied by' a report that tho applicants mentioned have qualified-, is,' however, no guarantee fhat they, will get commissions. THE OFFICIAL CALL. FOB THE VOLUNTEER FORCE. The following notice was issued by tho Defence Department last evening:—lt has been decided' to call for applications to join a force for homo defence. Volunteers under the following categories are asked for:— : (a) Royal New Zealand Artillery; New Zealand Staff Corps; Nen; Zealand Permanent 1 Staff. <(b)- Territorials now serving, over 20 years of: age, including those on 1A and' B Unattached Lists.- i (c) Territorial Reserve. > . (d) Failing a sufficient supply of volunteers from these sources'applications from others with previous military .experience between the ( agos of 20 and 35 years of. ape will bo entertained. No one will be accepted who- has not' reached the ago of 20-years, and preference will be given to single men. • All ra!nks will be required to updergo a medical examination. ' Pay and allowances of all ranks will be at the rate paid to the New Zealand Force when in annual camp. All applications from volunteers: will be dealt with locally, and will be. made by those wishing to volunteer, through' their squadron, battery, or company officers, or tflirongh area and'gfonp officers. No applications will be entertained at' the office of the Hon. the Minister of Defence or at the Defence Headquarters, Wellington. The Rifle Clubs. Information was received from General Godley; last evening, to the effect that arrangements have been mado for the Rifle Clubs, of Wellington and'tho suburbs to ,ba formed into a reserve company for tlie Fifth : Wellington Regiment, and President H. Marshall, of the Karori ,Rifle . Club,' has'' been appointed to co'nimaiid tho company.- Ho will give orders to-' the presidents of', tho other clubs' for the necessary parades to establish the organisation -and?get -the necessary practice , to . enable ■ .the'dubs to' take theirplaco.in the defence of the city. , OFFERS OF SERVICE; ' , AN INUNDATION. OFFERS TO. THE PRIME MINISTER. Offers of assistance, from all parts of the Dominion continue to pour in to tho Government and to tho Territorial officers. It is imjwssiblo in tho limited space' available, to give a' complete list, but those printed below may bo cited aa -typical examples. The Bealey Flat offer is probably from (too '. tunnel ' workers 'there. The ,0-tago. Motor. Club offer. is typical of similar offers from every motor association in Now Zealand.. Tho A-rawa tribe , have also sent a message saying that; they are .prepared to. fight in any. climo as their,ancestors fought previously for England in the Maori War. Following are some!'of tli'cTfiifessageS 1 .— ) •*>'■ Wairoa, -Augus't 5. Natives desire mo transmit translation ■resolution unanimously passed .today amidenthusiasm'..This', meeting Ngatikahanganui 'Maori-.'people express their' loyalty, to" .Throne'in!'present'tim« of stress, and'offer, their .sorvices needed in '.defence,of Empire. 1 R. N. JONES, Judge. ;■ . ■, " Bealey; Flat, August 5. Fifty- volunteers from Bealoy Flat for : war '. . : f: tomlinson. . Dunodin, August 4. .Tho Otago Motor Club unanimously resolved to-night that tho Otago Motor. Club will placo their resources at' the, 'disposal of' the Government in the present national and if necessary will proceed to form a motor corps for servico abroad.—A. E. Ansell, Chairman; J. W. Thomson, .Secretary" Hamilton, August 4. Deputation representatives Eureka far r mers waited on president Waikato'Winter'Showwith a request'that Government bo approached asking them to accept- in the 'hour of ne«d a contingent of farmers for immediate service at Home-or abroad, mounted or un'mountedv .any- duty. Gbd save the King.—F,. Ernest Smith. Christchurch, August i. Offer service? of self and-biplane ar'riving to'"country'if required—J.- W. H. Scotlapd, aviator. ' : ' .' ■ . Auckland," August i. 'Auckland Flying- Club unanimously, plate " their' homing pigeons at .Governmeht> disposal.—!. H. Dawkin, Secretary.'' EAST COAST NATIVES'WILLING TO '.'SERVE. .(By Telegraph—Press Association.) , Wairoa, August 5. The Natives assembled ' at the Land Court called on Judge Jones to explain the European, crisis, and thereupon parsed- a resolution offering.their ser-vices-'to'tho Government for the defence of' the Empire. •A ..great haka demonstration followed. • ... . - ■ CLUBMEN SUBSCRIBE 5425. " ..(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Nelson, August 5. • A patriotic demonstration took place here this • evening. • A- ■ very. large concourse assembled at a few minutes' notice, and - speeches were delivered by the Mayor,-Bishoji. Sadlier, and leading -citizens!. The British and French NationalAnthems were'played, amid great enthusiasm. Five members of. the Nelson Club have subscribed. .towards the.expenses of a Nelson expeditionary force. MOTOR-CARS AND CYCLES. v 'AVAILABLE. Mr. Beauohamp- Piatt's, secretary of .the New Zealand Automobile Union, 6tates that arrangements have, been made with all the- 'affiliated associations to place members' cars at the disposal of tho Government. This means that many hundreds of private motors Trill bo available for transport purposes. •' At a meeting of the Wellington Motor Cycling Club, it was decided to offer the sorvices of members of the club to tlie Defence authorities for scouting work abroad or within New Zealand. All those wishing to 'assist are invited to forward their names to Mr. .Liardet, core of Bell, Gully,' Bell, and Myers, Featherston S 'General Sir A. Godley announced last evening that'the motor.cyclists of Wellington had oifered their services ill case of necessity, which offer was at ones accepted. ' . . ' (By Association.) Auckland,-.Aiigiist 5. The Ancklanu Atitomobile has telegraphed to. the Prima Minister placing at the, disposal of tho GoYertment 250 cars in the event of emergency arising. . • EX-NAVAL VOLUNTEERS. ■V meeting of membors of tho. es-Wcl-lim'ton Naval's' Volunteer Corps -was held at the Naval Boatshed, Jorvois Quay,, last overling, Mr. V. R. Meredith presiding, when it wo 9 unanimously decided to. offer their services to the .Defence authorities in connection with the manning of tho local forts. .Seventy members attouded and-, handed- in!their names, whilst letters ware received from, thirty others willing to serve. AH- who desire to give, their- services.- are required, to communicate .with Mr. "Meredith; Custom-. lioubo Qusy; Mr.- A. K. Hialnp. Victoria Street; Mr, Steele., care of Ji QBi;i,ea&fi4.

Co.; and Mr. C. W. Martin, Tory Street. The meeting concluded by singing the National- Antheni. VOLUNTEER YACHTSMEN.. - Tho following offer lias been sent in to tho Defence Minister by local yachtsmen:—"ln view of tho present crisis that has arisen imperilling the safety of tho Empire, wo- (Te Ruru Yacht Club) offer to form a corps of competent yachtsmen and boatmen to servo as a harbour patrol or in any similar- capacity in the vicinity cf Wellington that may be required. Although not members of the Territorial Forces, we feel tliat any ability that wo may posses in the handling of boats' should be placed at tho disposal of tho Government." FIFTH REGIMENT PARADE. A parado of air members of the Fifth (Wellington) Regiment has beon called for 2.30 p.m. on Saturday at tho Drill Hall. FIELD AMBULANCE. A parade of the "A" Section of the No*.i Field Ambulance has' been called for 7.30 this evening in the Garrison Hall, Buckle Street.