A STIRRING APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3087, 18 May 1917, Page 6

A STIRRING APPEAL

SHACIUETON'S-CALL TO AUSTRALIA

SAVING OF A MAN'S SOUL

When ho was passing through Australia recently on his way to Loudon, Kir Ernest fcjnackleton made a stirring recruiting speech to a huge audience in Sydney. The federal redruiting authorities have since published this speech in pamphlet form broadcast through the Commonwealth, and they state that tho appeal of tho famous explorer lias brought many men into the ranks of the Australian Expeditionary force. The official report of the speech is as follows

To you men and women of Australia I have something to say. I come from a land where there are no politics and no clashing of personal interest. For nearly two years I heard nothing and knew nothing of what was happening in the civilised lands. Then I came back to a world darkened by desperate strife, and as people told me of what had happened during those two years I realised one great thing, and that was this: To take your part in this war is not a matter merely of patriotism, not a matter merely of duty or of expediency; it is a matter of the saving of a man's soul and of a man's own opinion of himsell'. . We lived long dark days in the south. Tho danger of the moment is a thing easy to meet,, and the courage of the moment is in every man at some time. But I want to 6ay to you that we lived through slow dead days of toil, of struggle, dark striving and anxiety; days that called not for heroism in the bright light of day, but simply for dogged, persistent endeavour to do what the soul said was right. It is in that same spirit that we men of the British race have to face this war. What does the war mean to Australia? Everything. It means as much to you as \tho"ugh the enemy was actually bea'ting down your gate. This summons to fight is a call imperative to the manhood within you. When I arrived in South Georgia, tho most southerly dependency of the British Empire, I did not know what the yard "Anzac" meant. But 1. learned soon that it was a title of fame and glory that would live so long as the great' God swings this little world in his Almighty hands. I cannot imagine that you men are failing to realise your debt of honour to the men who have gone before, to the men who have died in that temple of blood and glory, Gallipoli. There has been talk of mistakes. Nothing can detract from the name of the dead. The men who have died live in you, and on you rest the duty and the pride of following : tho trail of" honour they have blazed.

Dentil is a very little thing—the smallest thing in the world. I can tell you that, for I have been lace to face with death during long months, I know that death scarce weighs in the scaie against a mau'6 appointed task. Perhaps in the quiet hours of night, when you think over what l have said, you will feci the little snakes of doubt twisting in your heart. 1 have known them. Put them aside. If we have to die, we will die in the pride of manhood, our eyes on the goal and our hearts beating time to the instinct within us. For tins call to fight means to men more than ease, more than money, more than love of woman, more even than duty; it means the chance to prove ourselves the captains of our own soul.

I cannot speak like the politician. X feel the dearth of words. You trust me liko my own men trusted me during two years, when I say to you men of Australia: Iface the test of battle. We in the south were only a small party, but we held the flag of our country to the nations of tho world. We did that because we were men of. the British race, and because our manhood meant more to lis that .toil, pain, or death. If any word I can say would lead a man to go, even to die, and save his own soul, then tiro few words I am speaking to-day will have been of value to tho human race.

"Are there not .... Two points in the adventure of the diverOne, when a beggar he prepares to plunge. One! when a prince he rises with liis pearl?"

Just you plunge once, and the moment you have' put the uniform on you stand t'our-sqiiaro to all tho winds tliat blow, and Baying to the world—ave, and to future generations—that if you die, by God, you died a man! Remember nu politics, no little internal differences. They are nothing in a man's life. I am going to show you one thing, and that is that the whole world is swayed by ideals.

There may be no heroic achievements foi> thoso who go now—no Gallipoli, no Poziercs, 110 Bapaumc. It may end soon, but by a secies of slow, grinding efforts, and in those days doing your duty by sun or by candle light, by dark or by day, that is where you. men will come in. For an idenl wo wont South. Come, you men. Nothing can dull for you tho call. This is the ideal. Tho ilag I show you now (and Sir Ernest Shackleton waved a Union Jack) was given me by our King, who told me Jo carry- it into the unknown lands of tho South. Of the men who went South with me, twenty of my comrades are fighting at tho front. Ono of them is dead. Others are going, and I myself, please God, soon will take my little bit in the fight for right and for the hejp of the world, tho vindication of my own manhood and my own soul. Whatever your hopes or loves may bo, lay them to one side and go to the aid of your country. .. ■ Never since I was at Buckingham Palace and King George handed me the flag I have shown you, has it ceased to bo my ideal and that of the men with me. Tho King said: "You carry my flag' to tho South. It has flown over many a barron ico field and upon Elephant Island. Its actual value in money is about ten Shillings. Its value to the world and to the Britisher you cannot count. My men followed this ideal, and I ask you, every man and every woman, rich or poor, whether you agree with me, that no man in the wide >vorld lias tho command of the soul part of a man—it is to each individual tliat that command is left and that part of ft man js higher than any King or Emperor in the world. Will you take your place and fight for the right? I wish to God I haij'a voice that would carry across the world, and to take with it the words that I have spoken to yon, for I have spoken from m y heart—no matter low poorly. Never mind glory, duty, or patriotism. Take yourself as a man and GO.