EMBARKING FOR THE FRONT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 59, 7 September 1914, Page 6

EMBARKING FOR THE FRONT

Happy words of God-speed were given on .Saturday by the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward to Canterbury's section of the Expeditionary Force.. Both speakers had proper praise for that eager spirit of unselfish service which animates New Zealand's manhood, and both reminded the public about the hopelessness of Germany's ambition to dominate Europe. The volunteers know that the mission to the Old World is not a picnic excursion. They know that there ie important work ahead of them, and the prospect pleases them. The New Zealand garrison at Samoa will envy the comrades who are to begin soon the great voyage. The young men's purpose is to not only fight for the Empire, but to act always in a manner to make their country thoroughly proud of them. Therefore, an intelligent, healthy care of self is the first duty, if their ideal of unselfishness is to be achieved. "Each individual mu9b look after his own health, and look upon this as a sacred duty," is one of the maxims in a good set of "instructions for the guidance of those who are about to proceed to the seat of war.*' The Volunteers are informed that "the experience in past campaigns has been that somewhere about three times as many are killed by disease as are killed in warfare." Who does not remember the terrible toiiL of enteric fever during the Boer wur, and the ravages ol typhoid and cholera, in the Balkans war? Polluted water, drunk hastily by soldiers whose burning thirst prevails against any fear of infection, has slain more than lead and steel. By simple precautions and by patience— difficult, of course, at times, but usually possible — a man may keep himself fit and not be an easy prey for deadly germs. "They are asked now to keep fit for the honour of their Empire," the pamphlet continues. Carelessness or a foolish feeling that easy, safeguards against disease are unsoldierly may make a man a burden and a hindrance to the army. Each sick soldier, not available for active service, is necessarily a drag on the general organisation. New Zeaiahd would be very sad to have news that many members of the Expedition, by neglecting the advice of the wise, were idle in hospital. If the proportion of such patients, put out of action by their own deplorable fault, was large, the Britons of the Mother Country would, indeed, have cause to say : "Save us from our helpers," However, we do not anticipate that the number of the incurably careless will be abnormal. During the weeks of transit the officers will not lack opportunities to give all necessary helpful lessons in the care of health, and by the time that the troops take the field they should have a complete knowledge of the dangers of uncleanliness and the peril of unboiled water.