READY FOR THE FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15719, 21 September 1914, Page 3

READY FOR THE FRONT.

EPSOM TROOPS REVIEWED.

PRAISED BY MINISTER.

STIRRING ADDRESS TO MEN.

NEW ZEALAND'S HONOUR.

The expeditionary force encamped at Epsom was reviewed on Saturday morning by the Minister for Defence, the Hon. J. Allen, at Alexandra Park, in the presence of a large number of civilians.

i'hc troops, to the number of over 2000, took up positions opposite the saluting base shortly after nine a.m. To the right were the Mounted Rifles in mass, the Infantry Battalion in close column of double platoons the Army Service Corps in line, the Field Ambulance in columns of sections, and the Motor-cycle Corps. At the rear of the troops the battalion bands took up a position. Colonel C. E. R. Mackesy, officer commanding the Auckland Mounted Rifles, was in command of the parade, with Captain W. W. Alderman and Captain R. I). Gilmer as staff officers.

Shortly before 10 a.m. the Minister arrived and was saluted by the troops. In company with the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. C. J. Parr, C.M.G., Colonel Major, officer commanding the Auckland district, -Major Maedonald, general stag officer, Colonel Patterson, coast defence commander, Colonel Hazard, officer commanding the Auckland Garrison Artillery, Captain Mickle staff officer, and Mr. A. E. Glover M.P., the Minister then went round the parade ground, and very caretully inspected each unit in turn.

Alter the review the Minister and his party retired to the saluting base, and the troops marched past to the accompaniment of music by the bands. The march past was a particularly imposing spectacle, the troops marching with a precision and steadiness which bore testimony to the admirable training which they have undergone during the past six weeks. The first to pass the saJuting base were the mounted squadrons, under Major Chapman; they marched past in columns of troops. Then came the Infantry Battalion in column of platoons, under Lieutenant-Colonel A. Plugge. Following on came the Motor- C Corps, the Army Service Corps, in 'line, under Captain H. G. Reid and the Field Ambulance Company, tinder LieutenantColonel C. M. Begg. in column of sections.

. After the mach past the troops formed into a hollow square, and .the Minister addressed them

Address by the Minister.

In the course of a stirring address to the soldiers, the Minister intimated that he had seen practically all the New Zealand troops who were going awav to the front.

"I desire," said the Minister, '■ to say to you, and to the public of New Zealand, as Minister for Defence, that I have been highly gratified with what I have seen. I am proud to know that such a splendid body of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men is going away to represent New Zealand at this country's and the Empire's call. You are going to do a great duty for the Empire ana for your country. I hope you will read in the papers what British statesmen have to say about the war. This is a righteous and a holy war on our part, and we look to you to assist tibia Mother Country to help a weaker nation— a nation weak in numbers, but strong in heroic valour. (Hear, hear.) Those Who Remain Behind'. " I know," continued the Minister, "that you must feel that you are going to do a right and proper duty. There are many 1 remaining behind who would like to be in your shoes, and regret that they cannot go with you. I should like to be with you myself. Those who remain behind have a duty as well as those who are going away. We gave you the assurance that we will look after this fair country while you are i away. Our duty is to see that we carry j on the industries of this country, and to keep the place smiling and happy, so that those who go away may return to happy homes when the war is over. "We are looking to you," continued the Minister, "to uphold the name of New Zealand and New Zealanders. Always remember that, though you belong to the Anglo-Saxon race, and are Britishers in one sense, yet in a nearer and dearer sense to us, you belong to your country, New Zealand. Even tne Imperial officers who go with you we look upon, for the time being, as New Zealanders, and it is the fair name of New Zealand that you carry with you. We look to you to add to that fair name when you meet with Britishers and allies, and we look to you to show them by your conduct what New Zealanders, in the best sense of the word, can be. We look to you when you meet your enemies to let them realise what it is to meet New Zealanders. (Applause.) Moulding of Traditions. " I am firm in the confidence," proceeded Mr. Allen, " that you will add to the traditions of this country and those of the British race generally. As yet, New Zealand is young in history and in traditions. In the making of tradition.' greater opportunities came to the soldier Chan to the civilian, for a country never failed to recognise the sacrifices the soldier makes for home and country. You are going away to win honour ana glory, and to add to the traditions of your country, and in after years our children will read with pride the record of the officers and men of the expeditionary force in the hour of trial in the history of our race." Honouring a Bargain. Proceeding, the Minister said that New Zealand had fulfilled to the utmost the bargain made with the Mother Country in regard to the equipping of the expeditionary force. "We have," he said. " recognised our duty to do even more than we promised. We are, therefore, sending you away more fully equipped than we had first contemplated. We have doubled the 18-pound batteries, and are sending away a full brigade of artillery. We are sending away more Maxims than we had at first intended, and we are sending with you the best of our officers, for we are fully assured that we should not entrust the lives of from 8000 to 10,000 of our men to any but the best of officers."

Proceeding, the Minister said that when the time came when daring, dash, and courage were required, the troops would not fail, and he expressed the hope that should the occasion demand they would show mercy to the enemy, and respect the people they conquered. "You will then come back to us with clean and honourable records, knowing that you have laid the foundation of traditions that would guide New Zealand in the future. (Applause.) You go at full strength," added Mr. Allen, "and we have promised to keep you up to full strength. If necessary, however, we will increase that strength.' Proud of New Zealanders. "There are," went on the Minister, " awaiting you now in England 250 New Zealanders who have been training to join your ranks. I am glad that they nave not forgotten New Zealand. I hope you will take the message to them that I am proud of them, and that New Zealand is proud of them. We are certain that, with the others, they will do their duty on the battlefield when they get there." The Minister intimated that a printed message bad been prepared for the troops containing Earl Kitchener's advice to the British soldiers, and special messages from Earl Roberts, and from himself, as Minister for Defence. In concluding his address, the Minister said that although they were going away not quite so perfectly equipped, perhaps, as the Government would have desired, yet the best possible had been done, and he hoped tie troops would carry away pleasing recollections of what the women

of New Zealand had done for them. The country was grateful to the women top their valued help in equipping the troops.

What the Bifie Meant.

Finally, the Minister said he wanted to remind the men that they carried the rifle as a weapon of defence and offence. Ho hoped they would recognise what that meant, and that they would take care of their rifles as they would of themselves. " We want you to arrive in Britain as fit as you can be, and when you use the rifle at the front, let every bullet find its billet."

Everyone was proud of the British noncommissioned officer, and to the non-coms, of the expeditionary force he expressed the hope that they would also win a great reputation. To the officers he entrusted the care of the whole of the troops. " Take care of them better than you would of yourselves. We trust to you to lead them as true New Zealanders, and everyone will be glad to welcome you back, proud of the fact that you stood the test alongside the best of the armies in Europe, and gallantly held your own." (Prolonged applause.) The Mayor called fcr three cheers for the Minister for his stirring address, and these were heartily given by the assembled troops and civilians.

ADVICE TO TROOPS.

KITCHENER'S MESSAGE.

LEAFLET FOR NEW ZEALANDERS.

After reviewing the Auckland section of -the expeditionary force al> Epsom, -the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Jas. Allen, announced that the Defence Department was distributing leaflets containing the full text of Ear] Kitchener's message to the British troops, together with messages from Lord Roberts and the New Zealand Minister for Defence.

The following is the full text of Earl Kitchener's letter of advice, which every British soldier carried with him to the Cor.tinent:"You are ordered abroad as a soldier of the. King to help our French comrades against the invasion of a common enemy; you have to perform a task which will need your courage, your energy, and your patience; remember that the honour of the British Army depends on you' individual conduct; it will be your duty, not only to set an example of discipline and perfect steadiness under lire, but, also to maintain the most friendly relations with those whom you are helping in this struggle ; the operations in ■which, you will be engaged will, for the most part, take place in a friendly country and you C£.n do your own country no better service than in showing yourself in France and Belgium in the true character of a British soldier by being invariably courteous, considerate, and kind; never do anything likely to injure or destroy property and always look on rioting as a disgraceful act; you are sure to meet with a. welcome and to be trusted, your conduct must justify that welcome and that trust; your duty cannot be done unless your health is sound, so keep constantly on your guard against any excesses; in t his new experience, you must resist temptations, and while treating all women with, perfect courtesy, you should avoid any intimacy; do your duty bravely; fear God and honour the King."

The message of Field-Marshal Earl Roberts, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the New Zealand Army, is as follows — I congratulate New Zealand on the contingent which is about to sail, and feel sure that they will meet with a hearty welcome here, and that unbounded success will be theirs. I am proud to be their colonel-in-chief."

The following message, also contained in the leaflet, is from Earl Kitchener :— " I learn with much gratification that the contingent from New Zealand is about to embark, and can assure it a very hearty wecome from all here."

The Hon. J. Allen's message is as follows — Remember that you will hold the Dominion's honour in your keeping. Remember that both the friends you meet and the enemies you fight will form their opinions of New Zealanders from you, _ therefore see "that you are brave aa you are honourable, and modest and courteous as you are brave." The New Zealand troops are urged to keep Earl Kitchener's last words to the troops on leaving England and the messages of welcome from Earl Kitchener and Earl Roberts always with them. LOYALTY OF MAORIS. CHIEFS' GENEROUS GIFT. j [BY TELEGRAPH CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday. A further demonstration of the loyalty of the Maoris has been received by the Prime Minister in an offer conveyed to him by a number of native chiefs to give a half-year's rent from the Ohutu and other blocks to the Empire Defence Fund. The amount of this gift will be about £1000. The chiefs also expressed their pleasure at the fact that the Imperial Government has decided to avail itself of the services of a Maori contingent during the war. The news that the Government has accepted a contingent of Maoris has caused unbounded satisfaction in Wairoa district. Leading chiefs are now meeting in Wairoa, where 60 volunteered in ohe hour.

NEW ZEALAND OFFICERS. MAY SERVE WITH BRITISH. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, August 6. Following is a list of the New Zealand officers now in England, for whom application will probably be made to serve with the British "expeditionary force: Colonel V. S. Smith. Major M. M. Gardiner. Major G. S. Richardson, SurgeonMajor A. D. Carbery, Captain R. 0. Ch-es-ney, Captain R. B. Smvthe, Captain C. W. Melville, Captain Lampen, Lieutenant S. H. Da,vies, Lieutenant J. L. H. Turner. AUSTRALIA'S EXPEDITION. APPROACHING NEW BRITAIN. 4.LL LIGHTS OUT. Describing the scene on board the troopship prior to the operations at New Britain, the Sydney Morning Herald's special commissioner wrote : — "It was an impressive sight when tha winking Morse signalled through the deepening twilight ' All lights out.' The moon was at the full, and its strange and livid brightness formed a weird contrast to the darkness that ruled within the unlit mess-room, deck, and alleyway on board the ships, feeling their way blindly, as it were, across the shadowy sea, where they themselves were scarcely distinguishable, save as a slightly deeper shadow. Perhaps there was no danger, probably, though the exact whereabouts of the two big German cruisers. Gneisenau and Scharnhoret, could only be guessed at, none save that arising from the risk of collision; yet this ghostly shuffling as of secret conspirators in a darkened room, across the wind haunted vastnesa of the Pacific, could not help but leave an impression on all on board, which found vent in voice involuntarily lowered, and hands continually curved above the eyes to peer with vague expectation into the vividness of the night." • ;<t -