THE NEW ZEALANDER

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 27, 31 January 1917, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALANDER

PAPER FOR THE TRENCHES

(FROM OUR OWN COIIRESr-ONDENT.)

LONDON, 18th December.

In spite of the many New Zealand newspapers which liavo been sent to members of the Expeditionary Forces, the greatest complaint since the start of'tho war is still the difficulty of getting fairly recent news from New Zealand.

Tho Military Post Office lias wrestled very valiantly with this problem, but papers are heavy goods, and it is scarcely practicable to get large quantities distributed without considerable delay. Tho London office of the Evening Post considered this two years ago. and it was then proposed to publish-in London forthe men at the front a small news sheet containing a concise summary of New Zealand news. This idea was abandoned, because our men went to Egypt and not to France. But tho necessity for somesuch newspaper has lately been manifested in more quarters than one, and the movement has now taken definite shape. There are several organisations interested in the production of the paper, e.g., the New Zealand Contingent Association, tho V.M.C.A., and the military authorities. In order to produce it in a way that would appeal to the support of all, a- privat-s committee was set up here, the following New Zealanders subscribing the funds to produce the paper: Mr. Gilbert Anderson, Mr. J. H. B. Coates, Mr. Charles Elgar, Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, Mr. R. D. D. M'Lea-n, Mr I. W. Raymond, Mrs. E. Riddiford, Mr. A. E. Russell, Mr. H. Guthrie-Smith, Mrs. Warren, Miss H. Williams, and Mr. W. T. Williams. Mr. Guy H. Seholeficld, the London correspondent of The Post, undertook to produce the paper, and all the. work in. connection with it is voluntary, Mr. I. W. Raymond acting as joint lion, manager. The New Zealander, which made its appearance oh the 9tli instant, is a four page paper about 15 inches by 10 inches, and contains about 10,000 words of New Zealand news in addition to the notices of the New Zealand War Contingent Association and the V.M.C.A. The paper can be folded up and carried in <i pay book, and 300 copies can be posted to the front for Is 4d. There are no politics, and no advertisements, and no leading articles. ■ • The New Zealander appears each fortnight, and is distributed to the troops at the front by units and. through- the V.M.C.A. huts, while a certain number are distributed by the War Contingent Association.in England in quarters where the New Zealand weeklies and dailies cannot bo conveniently handled>

Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have ] both expressed their warm approval of the undertaking. General Godley, General Birdwood, and Sir G. H. Richardson have also cordially welcomed it. The bulk of tho news is a precis of tho leading news in New Zealand newspapers which have arrived by mail, but there is. also a weekly cable sent by the Press Association from Wellington. This particular feature is quite new on this sjdc of the world. The British press, which has given the New Zealander a Warm welcome, has a very scanty and slight reference to New Zealand;- and tlie New Zealand' Expeditionary Force is now for the first time receiving a regular Now Zealand news service. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE GENERALS. In reply to an invitation from the New Zealander, Lieut.-General Godley, commanding the Now Zealand Expeditionary Forces, sends tb.6 following message:— " At your invitation, sir, I gladly take this opportunity to' fiend a Chrisit-mas greeting and this message to'every' sol-. dier in tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, wherever, and in. whatever capacity lie may bo serving his King and country in' this our' great endeavour. "Our first Christinas found us alLtogether in Egypt, trying ito make the most of our opportunities for the better fitting -ourselves' for whatever work we might be called upon to do. Our second Christmas, but a, - few days after the close of our unsuccessful bulk not inglorious servico in the Gallipoli Penin"sula, found us scattered in Imbros, Lemnos, Egypt, England, and at sea-, enjoying a few days' rest before starting another period of reorganisation, expansion, and preparation. The last j year has seen ithe result of that -preparation in our servico in Franoe and Egypt, and ibhe organisation of our reserves and bases in England. This Christmas finds us apparently settled down for a period of steady fighting in' France and Egypt, and in the work of maintaining and increasing; our efficiency both at the front and in England.

" It is not for us to speak of the part we have taken in the past, but I can at least thank, and do thank, all those of you who wore given the opportunity for the ready response you invariably made to every call, and for the good reason you have given me for the great pride and honour whith I feel in commanding the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The future cannot but make further and different calls on you. Tho glamour and novelty of war is past. The only end that can bo considered is not yet well in sight. Tho coming year will ites'b our endura-nce. and tenacity, and our will to lag behind no other Force in our quiet determination to see this business through to the desired end, no matter how far off that end may prove to bo. Imbued with this spirit, in 'GodV good Itime/ success and victory must be ours, and it may come much quicker than any of us. expect. "To the whole Force, especially to my comrades of the Main Body, I send Christmas greetings and my best wishes for the New Year." Lieut.-General Sir W. R. Birdwood, j ] commanding the Ist Anzac Corps, writes :— "After the closest . possible association,- and fighting literally snbuldor to shoulder as the New Zealanders iuidtho Australians have done for eightoen months, it is, I know, with the greatest regret that tho latter have found themselves (only temporarily, they hope), not immediately alongside' of the New Zealandcrs now, and I trust, and indeed feel sure, that this feeling ifi mutual to all. I can certainly vouch for it myself; and though we are at present not so closely associated with our brothers of New Zealand, wo send them our heartiest greetings with the hope that, having started this war 'together, we may be- able to see it through side hj side."-