OUR EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3122, 28 June 1917, Page 4

OUR EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

MR, MASSFA"S MESSAGE TO THEM ON LEAVING ENGLAND. Before leaving England on his return to the Dominion the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. W. IT. Hassey) 6ent the following message to our troops: "Prior to leaving Great Britain for New Zealand I desire to express my heartiest good wishes for the welfare of the officers and men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, wherever they mny happen to he located. "In the great cause for which they are fighting they aTe being called upon to face hardships, dangers, and difficulties, and' British citizens all over the world appreciate ihis fact. Our gallant lads have willingly taken up the burden of Empire, and will cheerfuly carry their share right- through to the end, whenever the end may come, and where-. ever it may be. They know that in com- • ing to this side of the world they aro not only doing their duty to tho Empire, but they are defending their own country just as truly as though the war was being fought out under the Southern Cross instead of mostly on the battlefields of Europe and Egypt. They are doing their dutr to New Zealand, and New Zealand will do its duty to them. The love and admiration of the citizens of tho Dominion go out to their soldiers and sailors, and we trust to have the ODportnnity in the not-far-distant future of welcoming'them back bearing victory <md honour to the homes from whichthey set out to fight the battle of King and Empire, of freedom and civilisation." ,