ANZACS' SUPPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 4, 5 July 1939, Page 19

ANZACS' SUPPORT

MOUNTED REGIMENTS

HELP TO TERRITORIALS

"Causes are won by he spirit that is behind them. There was a spirit behind the British people in the days of the Great War, and a similar spirit will be behind them again if another war should come," said -he px- esitient, Captain T. C. A. Hislop, at the annual meeting and reunion of the Anzac Mounted Division Association last night. "We have got to awaken quite a lot of our younger people to the cause of their country and put into their minds that the finest thing a man can do is to render safe the country he lives in, the homes of his people and his children, and do everything he can to keep intact whai. has up to now been intact thanks to the protecting strength of the British communities throughout the world—protecting strength in the cause of freedom, justice, and decency." . "In these days," said Captain Hislop, "the best way we can make effective whatever reputation we built up is to see that the spirit that then existed is brought into the minds of the young and physically effective fellows in the country today. A POOR RESPONSE. "The Prime Minister made, not very long ago, an appeal which was expressed in terms which could not he bettered. It was a magnificent -appeal; in every way, to build up a force, from first line to back line, of 50,000. What has been the response? We have seen, from day to day in the papers, various figures given, but actually up to the present moment only a very small proportion of that 50.000 have enrolled."The greater number are for the Re-1 serve. The call for the first line has been deplorably small; I think the actual figures are something about 1500 or 1600. The best thing we can do is to get behind the appeal and do all that possibly can be done to make the voluntary appeal a success, because there is

nothing finer than, voluntary service, if you can have it." | SERVICE OVERSEAS. Certain appeals had been made to young men, said Captaia Hislop, stress- j ing that they would n^t be asked to serve overseas. To his mind only one appeal was worth twopence—the appeal to serve one's country, wherever the service might be. "I have got a feeling that there is, in those countries which might, should war eventuate, be opposed to us, an extraordinary feeling of enthusiasm among the young peoole. There is an extraordinary feeling for the causa j of their country as put to them. Wej have got to meet that by an equal I | enthusiasm."

Wholehearted support for the Territorials was advocated by Mr. H. M. Haycock, who expressed the opinion that the present was a right and proper time for the meeting to express an opinion on the all-important question of defence.

"Let us be as practical as possible today in our effort to assist the defence forces of this country," said Mr. Haycock. "It is expected that every Digger will do his utmost to assist the Territorial forces. Unfortunately they are not up to the sendard that is. desirable and necessary at the present time.

"This appeal which has been made by the Government should be backed up by every Digger and citizen in this country to make the voluntary system a success. If it is not a success it will have to be changed, but it is up to everyone in these critical times <"o make it the success it was in pre-war days."

Captain G. F. Yerex, after speaking in support of Mr. Haycock, moved the following motion, which was carried unanimously:— "That this general meeting of the Anzac Mounted Diivsion Association views with gratification the decision of the Government to re-establish at full strength the mounted rifle regiments to which its members belonged and pledges itself, both* by offers of personal service and by assisting the Territorial associations to support the Government in its efForts to make adequate provision for the' defence oi this country."