THE NEW ZEALANDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16916, 31 January 1917, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALANDER

THE PAPER FOR THE TRENCHES.

(Fhom Oun Owjj Cobbespondent.)

LONDON, December 18. In spite of tho many New Zealand newspapers which have been sent to members of tho Expeditionary Forces, ever since the beginning of the war, the greatest complaint since the start of the war is still tho difficulty in getting fairly recent and reliable news from New Zealand.

The Military Post Office has wrestled very valiantly with this problem, but papers are heavy goods, and it is scarcely practicable* to get large quantities distributed without considerable delay. The London office of tho Otago Daily Times considered this two years ago, and it was then proposed to publish in London for tho men at tho front a small news sheet containing a concise summary of Now Zealand news. This idea was abandoned becauss our men went to Egypt and not to Franco. But the necessity for some such 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, the Y.M.C.A., and tho military authorities. In order to produce it in a way that would appeal to the support of all, a private committee was set up here, tho 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'Lean, Mr I. W. Raymond, Mrs E. Riddiford, Mr A. E. Russell, Mi- H. Guthrie-Sinith, Mrs Warren, Miss H. Williams, and Mr W T. Williams. Mα- Guy H. Schofiold, the London co-respondent of tho Otago Daily Times, undertook to produce the paper, and all the work in connection with it is voluntary, Mr I. W. Raymond acting as joint lion, manager. Tho New Zealander, which made its a«pearunce on tho Bth inst., is a four-pago paper, about 15 inches by 10 inches and contains about 10,000 words of New Zealand news, in addition to tho notices of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, and tho Y.M.C.A. The paper en be folded up and carried m a payhook. and SOO copies can be posted to the front for Is 4d. There are no politics and no advertisements, and no leading articles. Tho New Zealander appears each fortnight, and is distributed to the troops at tho front by units and through, the Y.M.C A huts, while a certain number arc distributed by the War Contingent Association in England m quarters where the New Zealand weeklies and dailies cannot be conveniently handled.

Mr Masse? and Sir Joseph Ward haveboth expressed their warm approval in tho •undertaking. General Gqdley. General tSirdwood, and Brigadier-general Richardson hare also cordially welcomed it. The bulk ot the news is a precis of the 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 side of the world. The British press, which has given the New -Sealander a warm welcome, has a verv scanty and slight reference to New Zealand and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is now for the first .time receiving a regular Now Zealand news service. In reply to an invitation from the New Zedander Lieutenant-general Godley, commanchng the New Zealand Expeditionary L'orces, sends the following message- — . At. your invitation, sir, I xrfadly takn his opportunity to send a ing and this message to every soldier in the New Zealand Expeditionary* Force wher ever and m whatever capacity he maV bo g™L5e S av?ur S "* ™

"Our first Christmas found us all together '•Uur second Christmas, but a few days after the close of our unsuccessful but not inglorious service' in the Gallipoli Peninsula ound us scattered in -Imfiros, Inland, and at sea, enjoying a few days' rest betore starting another* period1 of reorganisation, expansion, and preparation, ihe last year has eeen the result of that preparation m our service in France and and the organisation of our reserves and basoj m England. «i Christmas finds us apparently sott ed down for a period of steady figS in l< ranee 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 were g.ven the opportunity for tho ready response you invariably made to every call, and ior the good reason you have men me for the great pride ami honow W Ch KU C |iio n na C ryXref ** New Z - Ihe comjng year will test our endurance and tenacity and our will to lag behind other force in our quiet determination to sec tlus business through to the desired proved be a . tter W*" °* tha * «*^S

Imbued with this spirit, in God's sW time success and victory must be ours and it may como much quicker than any ofus

"To the whole force, especially to mv comrades of the Main Body? I sen d CW my bos * wishcs f ™ *"

Lieutenant-general Sir W. R. Birdwood commanding, tho Ist Anzac Corps, writerAfter the closest possible association and fighting literally sWlder tender as tho New Zealand*** and the A«2S Hwu 011 * for 18 months, it is, I taW found themselves (only temporarily, they hope) not immediately alongside of the New Zealanders now, and I trust, and in deed feel sure, that this feeling is mutual to all. I can certainly vouch fot- it myselfand, though wo are at present not so eloselv associated with our brothers of New ZcT land, we send thorn our heartiest with the hope that, having started this w?r

well-known Jewish writer, that, at the nmint tune about 700,000 Jews are fighting Tn?he ranks of tho various bel]i S erent° nations? and that already many thousands of them have been decorated for bravery. They have earned more than 2000 Crosses of theLeHon of Honour, war crosses, and military medals m France; three Victoria Crosses" besides nranerons Distinguished Service Orders and Distinguished Conduct Medals in En-land and more than 8000 Iron Crosses in" £ffi T * 'I est,l ?. at I cd that so far some 60.000 Jews have died in battle A Maori woman, 70 years of age and not very strong, set an excellent example of practical patriotism at the- Military Service Appeal Board (says Thursday's Gisborne Times). She had appealed on behalf of her adopted son, and in the course of her evidence said that she had sent her manager off to the front two years ago. In discussing her position with the board, she said that her son was the only help she had on the station, but she was quite willin" that ho should go after the rush of work was over. She thought she could get assistance from the Maoris then, and" she expressed her willingness to give what assistance she conld on the farm. She said that as old as she was she could ride a horse and would bo able to help in mustering if her health permitted, and she could supervise the work. It came out in the course of her evidence that she had given valuable assistance to tho pakehas at the time of tho Hauhau troubles, although most of her tribe turned Hauhaus, and her lands were confiscated by the Natives in consequence She cheerfully undertook to do the best she could under tho present war conditions, and regretted that she had not a dozen sons so that she could send them to the war. Captain Walker wished her every success] and complimented her upon her decision! Ho wished everyone was like her, and said that she set an excellent example to the white people. "I come from a fighting race," she proudly- answered.