THE EMPIRES' CALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3193, 26 May 1915, Page 29

THE EMPIRES' CALL.

NEW ZEALAND’S RESPONSE JOTTINGS. Mr Marlow, of Dunedin, was advised by cable yesterday from Cairo that las son, Corporal J. J. Marlow, previously reported wounded, is now convalescent. Cable advice has boon received that Dr Barnett, who loft Dunedin with his family at the beginning’ of March, and volunteered lor service, has been appointed a surgeon at the military hospital established at Colchester (about 51 miles north-east of I,ondon). Ills second son, Mr Ralph Barnett, has received a commission in the Lancashire Fusiliers. Mr Geoffrey Barnett, the eldest son, is with the New Zealand Main Expeditionary Force. Mr Hugn Cornish, who for some months has been engaged in a motor business in the city, has disposed of his interests, and has been accepted for active service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. From the trenches; “Some of the soldiers in those trenches,” said a doctor recently back for a rest, ‘‘don’t get a chance to wash for weeks at a time. They eat like bears, they never take cold, their health is superb—but, dear me, how they look, with never a wash! A humorist of the Coldstream Guards was singing in a second-line trench a parody of ‘Tipperary.’ It was a funny parody, and in the midst of it a young sergeant shouted to the singer: “Yor makin’ me laugh till I, cry, Bill! Won’t yor stop it ? The tears are makin’ mo face all muddv.’ ”

The Mataura Ensign publishes a list of names of no fewer than 81 active players and four honorary members of seven local football clubs who have volunteered for active service, and are either actually at the front or now undergoing training. Mr H. E. Martin, who lately resigned the position of surgeon to the Gore Veterinary Association, and is now a' resident of Timaru, received notification this week (says the Mataura Ensign) of the death of his wife’s eldest brother, who was a member of the Canadian Contingent at the front. Mr Malcolm, M.P., has telegraphed to the Prime Minister suggesting that ho cable the High Commissioner recommending that the term “ Australasian ” be discouraged in the war, as it is plain from newspaper reports that the identity of New Zealand is being lost. Advice was received at Wellington cn Thursday (says the Post) that Corporal A. Bedford, of the South Lancashire Regiment, late janitor of the Wellington Training College, was killed in action in Belgium on March 12. The deceased’s widow resides in Wellington. He was very popular with the staff and/ children of the Normal School. There has been quite a mild boom in recruiting in Balclutha during the past few days (according to the Free Press), and a number of young men have either enlisted or intend to do so immediately. The movement will, it is expected, be further stimulated lay the addresses to be delivered at the special recruiting meeting in the Oddfellows’ Hall next Saturday n:,ght. Colonel Stoneham, Professor Marshall, and Mr Bedford (Dunedin) will be the speakers, and they also speak at Ivaitangata earlier in the evening. The Winton Record reports that a Vv inton young man desirous of offering his services for King and country went up for medical examination. Pie was informed he would have to go under an operation before ho could be passed. This did not deter him. He was successfully operated on a few days ago, and will soon be ready to join the reinforcements. He is leaving a good billot, and during the period- he has been in the hospital has paid a man to do his work. The Auckland Star states that to provide a nurse for the Red Cross Hospital at Malta, where the wounded from the Dardanelles will be taken, Mrs David Gillies, of Auckland, has cabled the sum of £IOO to the British headquarters. Mr F. S. Reynolds, formerly of the sessional staff of the Parliament Buildings, who went to England last November, has received a commission as captain in the 3rd Battalion of the Worcester Regiment, now in training in Cornwall. The battalion is expected to proceed to the front shortly. A very good example in generosity has been sot in the way of encouraging men to go to the war, by Mr H. T. Rosendalo, of Claremont (reports the Timaru Herald). On learning last week that one of his former employees, a. man wlio was married while in his emplov, had decided to go to the war, Mr Rosenclalc took out an insurance policy on his life and undertook to pay the premiums for him so long as he is a" ay. The premiums will amount to a little over £2O a year. Sir Douglas Mawson mentioned at Sydney last week that he did not know where every member of his Antarctic party was, but he had knowledge of the following Mr Bickerton. the aeroplane engineer ot the party, is row a lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment. Mr Mtidigan, of South Australia, the meteorologist with the Mawson party! is serving in a unit of the Royal Fly; ing Corps. Mr Percy Gray, the second officer of the Aurora, is a lieutenant in 11.M.5. Exeter. Dr M‘Lean, surgeon of the partv, is in the Army Medical Corps connected with the Black M atch. Captain Page, the astronomer of the Mawson expedition, ’ is with the Australian troops at the Dardanelles. . _ Mr J. A. Carr, son of the late R. A. Carr, of Epsom, will sail by the Niagara fo offer his services to the Mar Office. Mr Carr was a member of the Expeditionary Force that wont to Samoa. Mrs Carr will accompany her son to England. The stoical fatalism of the Turk is well exemplified by an incident which came under the notice ot a young New Zealander who happened to bo in Cairo when the wounded were being brought in after the fight along the Suez Canal. Included in the list of prisoners captured during the fight was a Turkish officer, whose hand • ad been badly shattered by a piece of shrapnel. Soon after ho was brought into camp one of tho British army surgeons had a look at tho wounded hand, and informed tho Turk that ho would receive surgical attention at the earliest opportunity. Greatly to tho surgeon’s surprise tho prisoner remarked that an operation would be only a waste of time, as he fully expected to bo shot by his captors early next morning.

When informed that the British did not murder their prisoners of war in cold blood the wounded Turk expressed groat surprise, and stated that he had been informed that the British killed all their prisoners, and ho fully anticipated that such would be his own fate. Tho second eon of Mr Robert Johnston, of Motuotaria, left Waipukuran last week cn route for the Old Country, where he will join the new army. This is the second son of Mr Johnston who has gone to England for the same purpose. Mr Duncan F. Bauchop, 8.E.. A.M.1., Mach E., engineering lecturer on the staff of the Christchurch Technical College, will shortly leave for England for the purpose of volunteering fox' activ'e service, His intention _is to join the Royal Naval unit of the Engineering Division being furnished by the combined Institutes of Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineers, tho Naval Engineers being drawn from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. His brother (Colonel Arthur Bauchop, C.M.G.), at present commands the Otago Mounted Regiment on active service.

Sergeant G. M. Wilford, son of Mr T. M. W ilford, M.P., has been promoted to tho position of lieutenant, and will accompany the next contingent to tho from. Since his return from Samoa, Lieutenant ' v ilford lias been acting’ as Engineor-i structor at the Trentham camp.. Canon Curzon-Siggera has sent to tho Rev. 0. J. Bush King another £SO for the wounded men, making a total of £IOO. Mr Bush King understands that this money is chiefly for the Otago men, but lie may use some for other New Zealanders. Dr R. Biiffault, of Auckland, left on. Tuesday for Vancouver by the Niagara, en route for England, in ordoi' to offer his services to the Imperial authorities (says the New Zealand Herald). Dr Harold Pettit, son of Mr T. Pettit, of Nelson, who has been stationed at a military hospital at Sunderland, has loft England for Egypt to join the military hospital there.

In the course of his lecture at Wellington on Tuesday evening, Chaplain-capta-n Thornton spoke in terms of high praise or the service clone by the Y.M.C.A for the troops in Egypt. “When I tell you,” ho remarked, “ that in some tents 10,000 Sheets of paper, besides envelopes, were issued weekly to the boys, you will realise what many mothers owe to the Y.M.C.A.” Constable M’Kenzie, of Napier, has received word that his brother, Corporal M'Konzie, of Princess Patricia’s Regiment of Canadians, died in the North of Franco from wounds received in the severe engagement in which the Canadian troops played so prominent a part. The late Corporal MTvenzio, who was about 26 years of age, was well known in the dominion, having been commercial traveller for some years for Messrs Virtue and Co., grain and produce merchants, of Wellington. Dr R. 11. Makgill, who for many rears past has occupied the position of district health officer at Auckland, recently offered his services to the War Office. The offer has been accepted (says the Now Zealand Herald), and Dr Makgill, having obtained leave of absence from the Public Service Commissioner, will shortly leave for England. Dr Makgill has been detailed foe special work in the chemistry department, and he will join'his uncle, Dr John Scott Haldane, F.R.S., a well-known medicai specialist, who has recently been investigating matters connected with the use of poinsonous gases by the Germans on the Continent. Dr Haldane is a brother of Lord Haldane, Lord Chancellor, and formerly Secretary of War. Dr Makgill served in a medical capacity with the 2nd Gordon Highlanders in the Boer war. On the eve of embarkation for the work on the Gallipoli Peninsula one of the New Zealanders wrote to his father, wellknown citizen of Wellington:—“We are very keen to get to work. It is a ruthless, blood-thirsty business, but one has only to remember the Belgian atrocities and the massacre of Christians by the Turks during the past few years, to feel that one’s cause is just and rig'hteous. With this feeling one can face the greatest danger undaunted. We are sons of an Empire of which the foundation stone is liberty, and which Is dedicated to the principle that no man can stand on its shores and bo a slave. We are prepared to give our lives if necessary, that that nation may live, and that this principle may long endure. As you say, a simple clear faith is a great help in facing the ultimate crisis of life; so we shall all of us do ‘our little bit ’ at the Dardanelles.” Miss Pollard, New Plymouth, has received advice that her brother. Major Pollard, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order (says the Taranaki Herald). The London Gazette in announcing this says:— “ The King has been pleased to approve of the appointment of the under-mentioned officer to be a Companion of Distinguished Service Order, in recognition of his gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with the Expeditionary Force: Major Georo-e Chambers Pollard, Ist Newcastle Northumbrian Field Company, Royal Engineers (Territorial Force). On the night of February 9-10, 1915, ho assisted to carry a severely” wounded officer into cover whilst exposed to continuous heavy fire. Major Pollard has been exposed almost daily to heavy rifle five and shell fire in attending to his duties, and has shown a fine example of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. Mrs F. W. Vare, of Island Bay, has received a cable message that her brother. Private Henry Troon, of the Australian Field Ambulance, 4th Infantry Brigade, lias been killed in action. , _ , , Corporal O. J. Hally (Auckland Infantry Battalion, wounded) is well-known in the Mataura district, where he served his apprenticeship to engineering at the Mataur* Paper Mills. Ho was a prominent athlete* and in addition to performing successfully on the track, was very prominent in tha three-quarter lino of the Mataura football team on several occasions. The call for recruits has reached soma of the remotest spots in the world, including Ocean Island, a comparative speck in mfcl Pacific. On Wednesday six recruits reported themselves to Headquarters, W elliugton. and stated that they had come all the way from Ocean Island tor the purpose of enlisting. They expressed a keen desire to enter on immediate service, and wer® at once sent out to join the new batla* lion at Trentham. Three sons of Sir John and Lady Findlay hold commissions in the Imperial Arms Mr Wilfrid Findlay is a second Heutenj' ant in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps; Mj Lloyd Findlay is a second lieutenant m thl 7th East Surreys, and expects to leave lot

the front very shortly; aol Mr lan Findlay is a second lieutenant in the 3th Battalion of the Special Reserve of the Tories and Lancashire Regiment. ... - Writing to a friend m Invercargill from Zeitun Camp, a trooper witu the mam Expeditionary Forco tells oi an interesting rite of the Indian soldiers. In time o. mi the famous knife, the kukri, must not be sheathed unless it has blood, and for this reason the soldiers arc \ery reluctant about drawing it unless there is a necessity for doing so. Naturally, the New Zealanders were very keen on sccung thei , but it was only after a oeal of pelsuasion that the writer induced a Ghurka to unsheath his knife. Before returning it to the scabbard again, tne Indian giaxCy flourished it and drew it hgntly his hand, making only the merest cut When the blood made its appearance, he just as gravely put the kukri in the sheath, Ins conscience being placated. . A children’s bazaar in aid of tno Belgian Relief Fund was held m the St. Leonards Public Hall on Saturday, the price of ad.n ssion being the humble penny Some time a"o two little girls, Gwen and Ruin Day, set out to raise a few shillings by holding tho affair in their mother’s house, but the scheme was token up so enthusiastically by their playmates that it was found necessary to secure tho hall for the occasion. Iho function was most successful, and owing to the eagerness of the youthful stallholders and the liberality of their patrons the sum of £2O is available for the funds. Following are the girls who assisted: —Gwen, Ruth, and Terata Day,. Ethel,' Vera, and Evelyn, King, Thelma Johnston, Susan Robertson, Minnie and Annie Shaw, Doris Lloyd, Nancy Nash, May King, Marjory Courts, Madge Guyton, Dorothy Barton, and ous. A shore programme of children's items contributed by Muriel Ussher, Edith Johnston, Roa and Clivo Lambert, Doris Lloyd, Gwen, Ruth, Terata, and Koa Day. and some 'gramophone selections, added to the success of the afternoon. rjho Grand Duke Nicholas has issued orders that Austrian officers who are prisoners of war shall no longer bo allowed td retain their swords. This is a penalty for the atrocious crime committed upon a captured Russian scout, whoso tongue was cut out because ho refused to betray tho positions of the Russians, This occurred at Zalosciki. Tho officers taken at Przemysl ' are -included in the order. The general commanding Omsk, a military district,-where a number of prisoners are now residing in comparative liberty, has issued an order to deprive all Austrian officers of their .weapons and explain to them the reason for inflicting this humiliation upon them. The flag at the Y.M.C.A. building was flown at half-mast all Saturday ns.a tribute of respect to the memory of Major Price, •who had been a resident in the Y.M.C.A. for a number of months prior to Ins joining the Expeditionary Force. It was resolved yesterday at a meeting of the residents in the building to send a letter of condolence to Major Price’s parents in Wellington. Feeling reference to tho death of Major Price was also made by Dr North at the men’s meeting in the Y.M.C.A. rooms yesterday afternoon. The following extract from a letter receivecl by ti resident on the Wg3l Co cist iiotia a well-known and influential citizen of the United States shows what the .feeling wrtn regard to tho war is in that country..- “ I cannot close this letter without assuring you of tho overwhelming pro-Allies’ sentiments of America. It seems growing daily. The well-organised German propaganda seems petering out and the proAllies’ feelings are growing stronger, even among Americans of Gorman descent. .Ims is a war to preserve our Pan-Anglo civilisation —we are learning, more and more of us, that this is so.”

Tho patriotic spirit of ono family in Roofton is worthy of more than ordinary note —viz., that of the Harris family {says the Grey River Argus). Four brothers have enlisted with the last Coast reinforcements for the front, and in last October their older brother, Thomas, enlisted and had the distinction of being declared by the medical officers at Trentham, physically the most complete man from the West Ho was 33 years of ago, and had neitner an unsound tooth nor a missing one. One of the younger brothers, who is to leave on May 23, is a crack shot.

Shortly after the war commenced shilling subscriptions were solicited in tho oversea edition of the London Daily Mail for the purpose of providing “Tommies” in the trenches with tobacco and cigarettes, it being represented that each shilling subscribed would purchase 50 cigarettes, lib tobacco, and one box of matches. The Government remitted all duty and carriage charges. Mr H. Rogers, Blenheim, collected £2 15s towards this worthy object, and forwarded tho amount and a list of donors to tho Dally Mail (says the Marlborough' Express). By a recent mail from France the local subscribers received post-cards from soldiers in tho trenches, who had received gifts of tho “fragrant weed,” and deepest thanks and appreciation of the kindness which prompted the gift were expressed by the recipients. Constable M’Kcnzio. of Napier, has received word that his brother, Corporal M‘Kenzie, of Princess Patricia’s Regiment of Canadians, died in the north of France, from wounds received in the severe engagement in which the Canadian troops played so prominent a part. Tho Into Corporal M’Kenzio, who was about 33 years of ago, was well known in the dominion (says the Tribune), having been commercial traveller for some years for Messrs Virtue and Co., grain and produce merchants, of Wellington.

On their return homo recently from a military camp on this coast (says the Wairarapa Times), some young farmers took with them a British flag, which they placed at the entrance to the local creamery, requesting every supplier to salute it as he passed through the gates in tho morning. All went well until a German youth appeared on tho econc. He refused to salute tho flag, and returned hurriedly to tell his father of tho occurrence. The latter remarked, “Leave it to mo,” and tho next trip to the creamery was made by him. Tho father drove rust the flag Without saluting, despite a warning that it was injudicious to show contempt for the flag under which tho man had prospered. During the next 24 hours a number of things mysteriously happened, which caused a lot of hard thinking on the_ part of the farmer. , A gate came off its hinges, cattle suddenly, escaped from paddocks, milk cans appeared to become endowed with life and spilt their contents, tho horse became patriotic and bolted, overturning tho cart, * and it is asserted that oven the cows refused to yield their milk. At any rate, the son of the Fatherland was one of the first at tho factory the next morn-

ing', and as ho passed the flag he saluted it with a fervour that could not bo excelled by the most patriotic John Bull. SOUTH AFRICA AND NOW. THE CASUALTY LISTS. .For purposes of comparison the question is often asked what were our losses in. tho Boer war. In all, there were 6416 New Zealanders engaged in the Boor war in 10 contingents.' "The total casualties were 412, and the number of lives lost 176. Ihcse losses were spread over the two years and a-half of tho campaign, the heaviest occurring in the engagement fought by the Seventh Contingent at Bothasberg. The total New Zealand casualties were as follow : Officers. Mon. Killed and died of wounds ... 7 78 Died of disease 4 87 Wounded . 25 176 Missing and prisoners 2 41 39 332 The Australian casualties in South Africa were 120 officers and 1280 men.