CORRESPONDENCE

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1918, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

rqri'LAß histotjy of thk war. '• . ' (W%c EJitor), : - Sir. — Wo are lining, in .the. nvyjst of the most momentous conflict ik v Ih'o , history of •maVkiiid. The. issue \vili';'<l«--termine wliewer the men and women of thfe fiitavu shall- live- und or the shadow ' Of' a military dospotisui, or whether ttfe jtrinciples -of C'hristiahity slia-11 pre^lil; and -nations^- like, individuals, hajc their duties as- well as If the world after the war' is ihot j more free, and' if smalr^g natioiSare 1 not protected from a^grcs^j sio'n- MM^liyes 'of millions of soldiers of tii^ AWjfe Annies . will havo been laid"' down in*vaiu. In this great struggle New Zealanders have taken. an honourable and glorious part.. We -who are living- know the. spirit which, has animated our soldiers and the sacrifices, which they have, made, but those who come after us can only learn these things from thc'pageM of history. The time to record the spirit- of the war is while the moving' scenes of this great drama are before our oyes. In addition to the Official Imperial History of the War which will be prepared under the- authority of the Committee of Imperial Defence^ the Government of New Zealand have decided to publish a special History of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, in which the deeds of our soldiers in the "far flung battle line" will be written, it' is hoped, in v manner worthy of. the theme, not from the point of view of the military critic, but with a sympathetic knowledge of the brave spirit in which they met the hardsliips and sufferings which they were called upon to face. Before such a history can be written materials must first be collected. Soldiers .in their letters, and diaries give plain but vivid pictures of their lives in camp, .on leave, and at the front. These are especially valuable to a historian as intimate records of the war An advertisement appears hi this issue asking that those who possess letters of special interest should forward them jto the Director of Base Records who will make suitable extracts and return j them without delay. I should also be glad if Patriotic Societies and Soldiers' Clubs- would' interest themselves in this project and endeavour to obtain suitable material' for a true soldiers' History of the War • ' - ; J. ALLEN, ™ p, ' Minißter of Defence. Othec of the Minister of Defence. Wellington, June, 3915.