THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 38

THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

HEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE MILITARY SERVICE. RECRUITING DISTRICTS ABOLISHED. WELLINGTON, September 18. The enrolment of all classes of the Second Division has been formally gazetted. Recruiting districts have now been abolished. THE FIRST DIVISION. WELLINGTON, September 19. A warrant calling up the balance of the First Division will be issued on Monday, October 1. and a Gazette containing the names will bo issued probably on the following Tuesday or Wednesday. NECESSITY FOR BALLOT OBVIATED. WELLINGTON, September 24. In moving the first reading of the Military Service Act Amendment Bill—a two clause measure—in the House of Representatives this evening, Sir James Allen stated that it provided for the calling up of the remainder of the First Division en bloo.

During the discussion on the Bill, which was put through all.its stages. Dr Newman referred to the feeling prevailing that a large number of men in the First Division were dodging military service. Sir James Allen stated that so far as one could judge the Government Statistician had cleaned up all the men who had failed to register. The Minister admitted that a •number of men had failed to answer tho summons to be medically examined and go into camp, but these were being cleaned up every week. Mr Wilford moved the following new clause to the Bill: "No member of the Second Division of the Reserve shall be sent into camp until three months after the medical examination of such member of the Second Division." Sir James Allen: You will get it in the other Bill. Mr Wilford: But will it say so ? Mr Aiassey: Have you ever known me to break my word? Mr Wilford: The trouble is that you might forget. Mr Wilford withdrew his amendment. THIRTY-FOURTH REINFORCEMENTS. OTAGO'S QUOTA. A special train left Dunedin at 11 a.m. on the 18th for Lyttelton with the Invercargill Milton, and Dunedin recruits for the 34th Reinforcements. The North Otago men were to join at Oamaru.

The southern men arrived in Dunedin by the previous evening's express. The South Otago men were in charge of Sergeantmajor Storie, and the Invercargill men were in charge of Sergeant-major Laffey, who goes into camp with the draft. Tho parade state as supplied by Captain Myers, A.A.G., was: Dunedin group, 96; Invercargill group, 96; Milton group, 22 J total, 214. Tho Dunedin men paraded at the Kensington Drill Hall at 9 a.m. on the 18th, Major Moller being in charge. After the roll call, and a few preliminary formalities, representatives of the Salvation Army distributed a handsome khaki-bound Testament to each man. These testaments wore the gift of the girls of Oolumba College. Cigarettes, khaki handkerchiefs, and mascots were also distributed by patriotic ladies. The men were addressed by Chaplain Macaulay and Colonel E. R. Smith. They then marched into town, headed by the Coast Defence Band, and in Anzac square werj addressed by the Deputy-mayor (Mr J. B. Shacklock) and Major Colvin of the Salvation Army. After they _ had been heartily cheered, the men entrained. The following are the / names of three groups: MILTON GROUP. Allan, W. J. M'Cleary, A. Anderson, "W. M'Erlain, J. F. Bagrie, J. A. Mellor, A. Boyes, D. F. Ea"bbitt, W. Cairdi, J. S. Robins, G. Clack, A. It. South, S. C. Eaton, G. E. Sutherland, D. Gordon, J. ; Turnbull, J. Green, L. "W. Wilcocks, G. Hitchon, H. G. Willcocks, J. A. Lyders, F. W. loving, N. G. INVERCARGILL GROUP. Ahem, T. H. D. Ames, T. lYrAlisier, A. Barker, E. H. J. M'Artlmr, A. D. Belotti, M. M'Erlean, J. P. Birclrfield, C. D. M'Kay, D. Borrows, J. M. M'Kinna, R. Brass, H. J. MKinnell, J. J. Broad, G. E. M'Eeod, T. R. Brown, F. M'Natty, F. K Buckley, J. R. Macphereon, J. Butel, R. Martin, M. Cameron, D. Michel, F. L. Campbell, C. Micklewright, H. Campbell, J. Mills, E. K. Carter, G. Neylon, J. J. Clark, A. J. Nichol, A. Cockburn, A. H. O'Plara, C. E. Collings, G'. J. Officer, A. R. Cowan, J. A. L. Orr, R. A. Donald, J. O'Srdlivan, S. J. Edginton, B. D. Oughton, J. L. Elliott, M. T. Preston. .W. H. Ferris, J. Perry, W. H. Fitzsimmons, T. Quested, W. E, Flahive, J. M. M. Rabbitt. P. J. Fogerty, T. E. Ross, H. Forde, T. Ross, J. Galbrciith, W. E. Sadlier, W. H. Gcrrard, P. Seffer, J. Gregg, J. D. Sinclair, D. A. Grieve, W. S. Sparks, A. M. Havgest, T. H. Spear, H. W. Hill, H. J. Spenoer, J. Hansen, E. Stewart, C. S. iiai-ris, W. H. Sutherland]. F. M. itogan, M. Taylor, A. V. Jukes, \V. Vial. W. G. Kee, &.• Waddell, A. P. Kelly, J. J. Ward, A. A. Kep, J. Warnock. G. Kilby, V. Weatherburn, J. S. Kingsland, H. R. Williams, H. A. Knight, W. Wishart, D. B. Laidlaw, J. Withington, C. B". Laverty, J->. Wilson, F. A. Leggett, F. M. Wilson, R .J. Leitch, A. A. K Wilson, J. Looney, T.

NORTH OTAGO QUOTA. Bcnbow, J. W. x Paterson, 11. A. Brown, -11,. 0. Raven, G. W. Campbell, A. J. M. Smyth, J. M. Crisp, T. Thompson, H. Conncll, T. Taylor, J. H. Dougherty, C. O. Wilkinson, G. V. Filssiinmons, J. Wilson, R. V. Faisandier, J. White, E. Leith, L. M. Wheeler, H. J. M'Lellan, A. Wright, H. M'Kenzie, L. N. loung, J. J. ilann, Tom H.

GOING TO THE FRONT. A meeting was held at Ratanui on the 12th inst. to bid farewell to Private Richard Bcrney, who was down on final leave-. Mr Overton presided over a very enthusiastic audience, and presented Private Bcrney with a wristlet watch. Speeches were also given by Messrs Jackson and Davis. Three hearty cheors were given for the departing soldier. When down from Trentham on final leave, Captain Jas. A Miller (captain of the Otago Hussars), who has received a commission in tho 31st Reinforcements, and who will leave shortly for the front, was the_ recipient of a presentation from the residents of Maungatua. A large gathering assembled hi Mr James Miller's woolshed. The chair was occupied by Mr Win. Leask, who referred to tho fact that though Captain Miller had been away from Maungatua for some years, the residents still looked on him as one of their boys, and were proud of the fact that he had been selected to lead a few of his fellow soldiers in the cause of freedom and right. Captain Miller enlisted' at the beginning of the war, but a severe illness, ending in a serious operation, prevented him from getting away with the Main Body. After his recovery ho again volunteered, but failed to pass the medical test. When drawn in the second ballot ho was passed as fit. He is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Jas. Miller, who have other two sons at the front. Their second son, Bombardier Forrest Miller, left New Zealand with the 4th Reinforcements, and served at Gallipoli, where he was severely wounded. The last 18 months have been spent in France in the Now Zealand Artillery. . He has been in most of the engagements in which tho New Zealand troops have taken part, and was again wounded at Messines. Latest advices state that he was in the convalescent hospital at Brockenhurst making a good recovery. A younger son, Trooper Bruce Miller, is with the New Zealanders in Egypt, having left with the 24th Reinforcements. SECOND DIVISION MEN. CONFERENCE CONVENED BY THE GOVERNMENT. WELLINGTON, September 23. The Government has decided to convene a round-the-table conference of mennbers of Parliament to discuss the pensions and separation allowances to be granted to the members and' dependents of the Second Division. These and other cognate matters will bo debated in a free and informal manner in order that the Government may ascertain tho mind of the House before coming to a final decision. The conference will, no doubt, reach an agreement with regard to rates of pensions and allowances, and presumably the Government will give effect to the views of the majority. The Minister of Defence has already stated that the pensions will be fixed by legislation, but he, personally, prefers that the separation allowances should' be dealt with by_ regulation; whereas the Second Division League is desirous that both pensions and allowances should be dealt with by legislation. SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. ARRIVAL AT PORT CHALMERS. MANY BENEFITED BY THE VOYAGE, A contingent of 371 sick and wounded soldiers, comprising 15 officers and 356 other rank, and six nurses, arrived in New Zealand on Sunday, and on the 20th the Otago men, to tho number of 60, were landed at Port Chalmers. " The sea voyage had a wonderful eftect in restoring many of the patients to something approaching their former health. This is demonstrated by the fact that 227 patients had to be carried on board the vessel, but only 26 had to bo oarried ashore at the disembarkation at the various New Zealand ports. The men were mostly disabled by gunshot and shrapnel, there being very little disease. Th<* greater number of the men were engaged in the battle of Messines and in subsequent minor actions following the capture of tho village early in July. The vessel followed the route of another hospital ship, which arrived here a few weeks ago, and the men also had a most enthusiastio reception at the town which had previously given the other contingent of New Zealanders such a fine welThi'ee men only of the whole complement of wounded soldiers carried in the vessel had lost limbs; in each case a leg. These threo were engaged in the Somme. Lieutenant-colonel R. Anderson was in ohaiiffo of the contingent. Major Wm. Bond, of Timaru, was the adjutant. The patients included five nurses, who returned in charge of Sister E. E. Grant, of Auckland, and they also benefited by tho voyage. These nurses were: Staff Nurses G. M. Anderson (Palmerston North), and M M Coates (Auckland), also Sister L. M Bird (Wellington), D. E. Moore (Hawera), and I. N. M'Ghie (Dunedin). _ A number of the officers of the Dunedin staff motored to the port early in the morning, and the work of getting the men ashoro was expeditiously carried out. The Mayor (Mr J. J- Clark) informally welcomed the men on behalf of tho city. An Otago soldier who returned by the hospital ship has a fine record of service. This is Lieutenant A. Orr. of Balfour. He was a member of tho Main Body of the Ota.o-o Mounted Rifles. After being wounded at Gallipoli he returned to New Zealand. He left again with tho 17th Reinforcements. Ho was wounded a second time at Ploegsteerte. but after treatment in a French hospital was able to return to the front for the third time, and took part in the Messines Battle. In that battle he received a wound in the arm Lieutenant J. B. Mawson. whose home is at Winton. was one of the five decorated men to return to New Zealand las* week. He was formerly a teacher at the Wellington Collog-e. Lieutenant Mawson left New Zealand with the Fifth Reinforcements, as

a member of the Wellington Infantry Battalion. He received the Military Cross for conspicuously good work in the Machine. Gun Corps at tho battle of the Somme. Though mention may, however, be made of ono or two men whose fighting abilities and courage havo gained for them particular notico, it should not fail to be realised that every ono has done his "bit," and added to tho high standard of courage which has been gained by tho New Zealand soldiers. Thirty men for the north and the south of Dunedin, accompanied by their relatives, were despatched from the ship by the 7.9 a.m. train, in order to catch tho express trains at the Dunedin station. The 30 men for Dunedin came up by the 11.30 a.m. train, to which was attached an ambulance carriage for the cot cases. The cot cases for Dunedin Hospital were:. Corporal A. V. Thomson, storekeeper, North-East Vallev.

Private Aaron Johnson Bowmar, fireman, Kaitangata. Private William Patrick Traill, ironmoulder, Dunedin. Gunner F. D. Bell, Shag Valley Station, Waihemo.

In-patients for Dunedin Hospital were:— Private Alexander Miller, machinist, North-East Valley. Private Francis Daniel P. Slater, farm hand, Catlins. Private N. Seymour, 0.1.8., Fairfield.

ARRIVAL OF A FURTHER DRAFT. AUCKLAND, September 24. A contingent of 232 soldiers and two nurses arrived at Auckland to-day, 24 of the officers retm-ning on duty. The remainder of the contingent is invalided. The ports of destination are:—Auckland, three officers and 68 men; Wellington, 22 officers, 72 men, and two nurses; Lyttelton, ono officer and 26 men; Port Chalmers, 39 men. There are four Military Medallists, namely: Lieutenant Hugh Perkins, Christchurch, who won his decoration when in the ranks; Bombardier William Brown, Dunedin-; and Sergeant Edward Fox, Auckland. The D.C.M. is held by Sergeant Frank Holder, Napier. Two officers and one private havo been recalled by the authorities for munitions work. The southerners will leave by special train at 10 o'clock to-night. RETURNED FROM THE FRONT. WELLINGTON, September 18. A return laid on the table of the House of Representatives by Sir James Allen today states that the number of men of all ranks of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force returned to the dominion up to July 31 last was 10,917. The reasons for their return were as follow: —Wounded. 3588; sickness. 4822; on duty or on furlough, 500; time expired, 1; refused to be inoculated, 46; misconduct, 121; contagious diseases, 127; commissions with reinforcements, 55; family reasons. 9; inefficiency, 10: employment in New Zealand, 1; reason not notified 5 •. from Samoa, 1632. DISOBEDIENT SOLDIERS. WELLINGTON, September 18. In Trcntham camp orders it is announced that Private G. H. Lloyd (Details), having been found guilty by District Court-martial of disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer, has been sentenced to imprisonment, with hard labour, for two years. For disobeying lawful commands given by their superior officers the following have been sentenced to 11 months' imprisonment, with hard labour:—Private W. T. Virtue (Details), Private R. ' P. Knape (Details), Private W. G. Wright (Details). RELIGIOUS FAITH OF SOLDIERS. WELLINGTON, September 17. The following return shows the number of each religious denomination embarked on active service up to and including the 28th Reinforcements: —Church of England, 35 777; Presbyterian, 18,316; Roman Catholic. 9721; Methodist, 4084; Wesleyan, 1441; Baptist, 978 ; • Protestant, 655; Congregational, 425; Salvation Army, 308; Church of Christ, 207; Brethren, 185; Lutheran, 157; Jewish, 104; Agnostic, 57; Mormon, 56; Nonconformist, 52; Unitarian, 42* Freethinkers, 40; Atheists, 24; Th'eosophists. 15 ; Spiritualists, 15; Episcopalian, 11; Rationalists. 10; Christadelphian, 10; Seventh Day Adventists, 10,_ Quaker. 9-' Greek, 3; Independent, 2; Hindoo, 1; Deist, 1; not recorded, 4587;—total, 77,283. A return laid on the table of the House of Representatives shows the religion of members of the Expeditionary ■ Force Reserve called up by ballot (No. 1 to 7). The figures are:—Church of England, 10,352; Presbyterians, 7077 ; Roman Catholics, 4495 ; Methodists. 1340 ; Wcsleyans, 567; Baptist, 348; Brethren. 226; Salvation Army, 149; Conoregationa'list, 126; Church of Christ, 98; Freethinkers, 92; Jews, 58; Lutherans, 55; \gnostics. 38; Christadelphians, 30; Testimony of Jesus, 22; Seventh Day Adventists, 24- Unitarians, 17; Atheists, 17; Rationalist": 14; Quakers. 12; Christian Scientists, 10 ~' Spiritualists, 9; Theosophists, 8; Richmond Mission, 3; Mormons, 2; Bible Students. Brotherhood of Man, Free Church, International Bible Students. Latter Day Saints, Russian Orthodox, Society of Friends. 1 each; religion not stated, 1025: no religion, 181. LONDON AIR RAID FUND. The secretary of the Otago Education Board acknowledges receipt of the following contributions from schools to the fund for the relief of the distress caused through the recent air raids on London :—Previously acknowledged, £lB3 8s Normal, £lO- Oamaru South. £4 12s 3d; Green Island, £3 3s Clinton. £1 18s 6d; Lower Harbour. £1 8s; Patearoa. £1 ss; Strath Taieri. £1 ss; Paerau. £1 2s 6d; Kaihiku, £1 0s 6d ; Bendigo. £1; Wharetoa, £1 • North Taieri, 17s 2d; Earnscleugh, 17s; Stirling, 15s; Purakanui, 10s; Ratanui, 10s; Waipiata, 10s; Maercwhenua. 7s 6d; Glenomaru, 6s 6d: Tahitika, 6s 3d; Kartigi, 4s; Wylie's Crossing, 3s 6d; Pounawea, 2s 6d; Wangaloa (additional), Is lid. THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION. REVIEWED BY SIR D. HAIG. (Special from Official New Zealand Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. September 20. The only event of importance for some weeks now has been the review of the division bv Sir Douglas Haig. The parade was the largest and most imposing held by

the division in France. Massed _ bands .playod the general salute, after which the Commander-in-Chief., accompanied by the Divisional Gereral and his staff, moved to the right of the line and proceeded with his inspection. This concluded, the division inarched past in column of platoons and rections. The whole, ceremonial was carefully organised, and" afforded a memorable spectacle. The High Commissioner has just concluded a nine days' visit to the division. He found the troops in billets scattered ever a wide area of beautiful country, almost beyond sound of the guns. During his stay Sir Thomas Mackenzie was the guest of the corps and divisional commanders. He also visited the army commander. During his tour he saw the units of the force bnd visited numerous hospital l ?, in which he talked to the New Zealand sick and wounded. Before leaving ho expressed the pleasure that this interesting tour had given him, his > surprise at the wonderful organisation behind the lines, and tspecially his appreciation of the condition and cheery morale of the New Zealand Force in France. QUALITY OF OUR TROOPS. LETTER FROM GENERAL BIRDWOOD WELLINGTON, September 18. The following is an extract from a letter from Lieutenant-general Sir W. R. Birdwood to the Hon. Sir James Allen, dated July 24, 1917: " During the last few weeks my corps has, for the first time since our arrival in France, been having a rest, and a thoroughly well deserved one as far a 6 my men are concerned. Wo had a very hard time of it just before we came out for this in all the fighting we had in the vicinity of Bullecourt, but that is all such an old story now that it phould be very stale news if I were to write about it. It was, I think, the hardest fighting in which our troops have yet been engaged, for on one occasion we had to fight our way into the Hindenburg lino and maintain ourselves there with both flanks exposed for several days and nights against constant conuterattacks until other troops joined up with us

''Here we are not holding a regular line of trenches, but a series of villages, with posts in between. . One of these villages the Germans were able to penetrate, and there got hold of five of my light guns, ■which they blew up. Then our counterattack fell' upon them from all sides, hurling them back with tremendous loss. We actually counted some 3000 dead Germans in front of our different villages, while further off they, had to struggle back through their own thick wire entanglements, and while doing this the whole of my heavy and light artillery were on them as hard as they could .go. What the Germans actually lost there we, of course, do not know, but we could see large piles of dead heaped around. You can imagine how this delighted my boys, whose tails were completely up, while from that day the Germans never attempted to advance to the attack against \\s, though as I have said when we- were actually -in the Hindenburg line we were subjected to constant attacks.

"I know how delighted you will all have been at the magnificent work done by your New Zealand Division, alongside of whom I am glad to say two of the Australian Divisions were fighting on the Messines Ridge. I was very pleased at being able to see them just before the attack and to go through all their orders with them. I felt perfectly confident that their operations would result in complete success. I was very glad to see also at least a hundred of my old friends who were on the Gallipoli Peninsula with me during my short visit to them '' There is no doubt about it that the Germans in front of us have their tails well down and that they have lost all power of initiative. I wish this meant that I saw the end in view, but I am sorry to say I do not, for one cannot help realising that in these days of barbed wire entanglements and deep trenches it may always be possible for a beaten force, as long as they have plenty of ammunition, to hold out for a very long time, especially when they realise, as their military classes do, that defeat means their extinction. LIEUTENANT FINLAYSON. Alexander Moncrieff Finiayson was born at tiie manse,' Waitati, on February 10, 1884. He was educated at the public school up to the sixth standard, then for two years at the District High School, Port Uhalmers, where he won a Senior Education Board .Scholarship, and attended the Waitaki Boys' High School for three years. At the end of this term he entered the Ota go University with a Junior University Scholarship. He graduated from the University of New Zealand, gaining his B.Se. in 1906,' the Senior Scholarship in Geology in the same year, and his M.Sc, with first-class double honours in geology and electricity, in 1907. He was for five years at the Otago University and School of Mines, gaining the Black Prize in chemistry in 1903, the Ulrich Memorial Medal in mineralogy and petrography in 1906, and the Associatcship of the Otago School of Mines in 1907. At the {School of Mines, where ho worked with Professors Marshall and Park, he carried out several researches in economic geology, comprising studies of the scheelite deposits of Macraes and Glenorchy, of the gold veins of Otago, and of the Reefton goldfield. JJivrmg three field seasons ho was engaged on the Now Zealand Geological Survey under Dr. J. M. Bell, in the Ross and Mikoruu districts of Westland, the Cromwell and Kawarau districts of Central Otago, and the. Parapara and Collingwood districts of Nelson. In November, 1907, he went to the Auckland Islands as one of tho geologists on the sub-Antarctic expedition of the Hinemoa. In 1908 Mr Finiayson wa<s awarded tho 1851 Exhibition Scholarship tor a thesis on the geology of the Otago gold veins, and proceeded to London, where he was for two years engaged in the ecological laboratories of the Imperial College of Science end Technology (Royal School of Mines), under the direction of Professor VV. W. Watts, president of the Geological Society of London. During his tenure of tho scholarship he carried out several investigations on the application of geology to mining. His first work, which has been published by the Geological Society, was a research on the occurrence and origin of New Zealand nephrite (greenstone). based on previous field work in New Zealand. Thiu paper has attracted considerable notice from both English and German geologists. In the winter of 1903-1909 he commenced a

study of the lead and zinc ores of Great Britain—a work which has since been completed and published in two papers in the Geological Society's journal. In connection with this work, the council ot the society awarded him the Daniel Pigeon Fund prize in 1909. In the same year he completed a research bearing on the cause and extent of ore-shoots on the Thames and Wailn goldfields. In the summer of 1909 lie proceeded to Huelva, Spain, where he was engaged for three months in a detailed geological examination of the famous copper mines of Rio Tinto, and adjoining districts. The results of this work were submitted, in June, 1910, to the University of London, and gained him the degree of Doctor of Science. The work received warm commendation for its practical valuo from Professor W. A. C'arlyle, formerly general manager to tho Rio Tinto Company, and it has been published in Eoonomic Geology, a journal issued from Yale University (New Haven, U-S-A.) It is of interest to note that this is tho first occasion on which tho University of London has awarded its doctorate for a research in mining geology. Br Finlayson has been elected a fellow of the Geological Society of London, and an Associate of the Institution of Mining a'nd Metallurgy, and he haffl been a contributor to tho Mining Journal, the Mining Magazine (London), and tho Mining and Scientific Press (San Francisco). In 1910 Dr Finlayson received an appointment ats petroleum geologist on the Burma oilfields. In this work he was occupied when the war broke out in 1914. As soon as he could get relieved from fills engagement he went to England and obtained a lieutenant's commission, and was attached to tho South Lancashire Regiment. Dor more than a year he was kept with tho Reserve, training recruits and receiving special training in officer's work. After getting to the front he was twice wounded prior to ttie final wounds to which, as reported, he succumbed on July 3, at the ago of 33 years. JOTTINGS. Mr Chas. Boswell, of Ravcnsbourne, has •been advised by tho Defence Department that his son, Second Lieutenant Chas. Boswell, has been awarded the Military Cross for gallantry on the field. Advice has been received that Mr F. G. Massey, son of the Prime Minister, who left New Zealand %vith tho rank of lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade, has been transferred on promotion to the 11th Lancashire Guards, with the rank of major. It is interesting to note that Chaplaincaptain Moloney is the only member of the staff of a hospital ship which recently arrived here to make the return trip by the vessel. Lieutenant - colonel Cook, of Timaru, will be the medical officer in charge, replacing Colonel Collins. Mr A. Matheson, a former Mayor of Roslyn, received word on the 20tli that his son, Private J. R. Matheson, had) been admitted to a hospital in France on Septembar 6, suffering fro<m severely crushed feet, the wounds being accidentally inflicted. The- injured soldier left Dunedin three- years ago with the Second Reinforcements, and saw service in Gallipoli before going to France. Rifleman Alex. Dryedale Sneddon, formerly believed wounded and a prisoner of war, but now reported killed in action on February 3, was a son of Mr and Mrs Sneddon, Castle street. He was a member of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. The details respecting the death of Lieutenant E-. G-. Pilling, of the Ist Otago Battalion, who was killed in action in the advance on Messines about daybreak on June 7, show that lie wias shot in the head a few minutes after he had led his platoon " over the parapet." One of his fellow officers, writing with reference to his death, describes having seen him addressing his men under the trees—Lieutenant Pilling standing in his shirt sleeves with the men sitting about in front—and for an hour or more "going over" everything with thorn, explaining difficulties, and giving reasons for every move in the way tha/t suits the colonial soldier. He was buried where he fell, while gallantly leading his men, at the foot of Messines Ridge, the Rev. H. W. Burridge, Presbyterian chaplain attached to the Ist Otago Battalion, conducting a service over his remains. , Lieutenant Pilling's parents have received numerous letters from the front—from Brigadi»r-gen-eral Bxaithwaita, Colonel Charters, Captain Prior, Lieutenant Cockerel!, Lieutenant M'Queen, and the Rev. Mr Burridge among others—bearing affectionate testimony to the efficiency and popularity of their son and to the admirable influence exerted by him over his men. Mrs A. Vernon, South Dunedin, has received a letter giving a brief aocount of the death of her ; youngest eon, Sergeant-bugler Augustus Albert Vernon, who left the dominion with the advance party of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. The writer eaye: " Your eon was killed in action by a machine-gun bullet. More than 34 of the officers and men of his company were killed the same day. He was a very bright, cheery fellow, and was beloved by everyone. Many a hard task running with information was given to him, often amid shell fire and bullets, but he never hesitated." A military policeman was court-martialled at Dunedin recently on a charge of neglect of duty. The sentence, promulgated on Tuesday, was 17 days' detention. Mrs H. Eccles, at present residing in Auckland, has received advice of the death in action of her husband, Captain Horace D. Eccles. on August 26. Dr Eccles was born in England, and entered Guy's Hospital, London, where he passed his medical examination, and gained his degree. He came to New Zealand in 1900, and went to Manganui. On the outbreak of war be offered his services to tho Now Zealand Medical Corps, but there being then no vacancy, he went to England and enlisted there. He was immediately appointed medical instructor at one of the R.A.M.O. camps, and within a month of enlisting he was in the firing line in France. On July 25 he was promoted and mentioned in despatches, being transferred from the Irish Rifles to the Artists' Rifles.

A message received in Christclmrch on "Wednesday stated that Lieutenant-colonel Arthur Blewitt, of the 60th Rifles, had been killed in France. Ho was well known in to North Canterbury district, and has had a distinguished career. He was about 55 years of age and was educated at Eton. He was one of " Kitchener's men " in Egvpt, and was Governor of Fashoda and afterwards Governor of Khartoum province. Ho then rejoined his regiment in India with the rank of major. While on leave in 1904 he paid a visit to New Zealand, and was eo favourably impressed with this country that he sent in his papers and decided to stay here, purchasing the Terako station in the Amuri district. On the outbreak of hostilities he left for England and offered his services to the War Office.

THE CAPTORS OF MESSINES. PARADE ON A BATTLEFIELD. INSPECTION BY THEIR COLONEL-IN-CHIEF. (From Malcolm Ross, Correspondent with tho Now Zealand Forces in the Field.) In tho square of an old Flemish town behind the lines, a day or two ago, a parade of Imperial troops was held in connection with tho visit of 11.R.11. the Duke of Connaught to the corps under which the New Zealanders fought in the battlo of Messines. There was a special muster of tho New Zealand Rifle Brigade, of which the Duko is colonel-in-chief. In addition, other troops of all arms were represented in the parade. Tho square was bright with bunting, in which the flag of England, the Tricolor, and the Belgian flag were prominent. From every window of the shops and houses around the square soldiers and civilians watched the ceremony. Tho rod capes of British nurses made a splash of colour in the drab background of khaki. Grouped at one side of tho square Avere the trophies from the battleground of Messines—field and machine guns, and other weapons that the Germans had left behind them in their flight. Tho Duke, accompanied by General Plumer, of the Second Army and General Commanding the Corps, was received with a Royal salute as he reached tho saluting base. Then, accompanied by the army and corps commanders and tho divisional generals, ho mado a close inspection of the troops. The officers on parade with tho troops were introduced to him, and each was greeted with a hearty handshake. Abovo, the patrol of 'planes flew at varying altitudes, and, looking up, wo watched their graceful evolutions. Still higher, to invisible heights of 16,000 and 17,000 ft, had cliirjbcd the triplanes. The precaution was necessary, for the parade was within easy reach of the German bombers. Indeed, the inspection was scarcely over when the white puffs of tho bursting shells of our anti-aircraft guns could bo seen high, above on the outskirts of the town. But the massed bands played bright music, and the ceremony went on as quietly as if it were being held in an English field beyond the reach of war's alarms.

The inspectioft over, three rousing cheers were given for King George. His Royal Highness then returned to the saluting base, pnd the troops marched past in column of route, the New Zealand Rifles leading Afterwards the Duke met a number _ of brigadiers and staff officers and the civic authorities of the town, with whom he chatted for a few minutes before proceeding along the front to other scenes. To the New Zealanders the day was one of special interest, for it was the first occasion upon which the Rifles had seen their colonel-in-chief. It was particularly fitting that they should meet thus —on the battlefields of" France, and at a time when they were fresh from their part in the defeat of the enemy in the battle of Messines. COMFORTS AT MIDNIGHT. . A SOLDIER'S APPRECIATION. The New Zealand soldier is not slow to appreciate any kindness done him, in his time of need, and indeed his gratitude is often touching in its heartiness. From its soldier friends the Y.M.C.A. receives many expressions of gratitude, which amply reward its busy workers and put the hall mark of success on their efforts. Private Duncan M'Lean, in a recent enthusiastic letter from France, writes: —"Let it be widely known through the length and breadth of the fair isles of New Zealand that their Y.M.C!A. are the people who, under the able guidanoe of Mr Hay, are here on the spot amongst the shells doing a great work amongst the boys both temporally and spiritually. . . . They know what is most needed. Night work _is again in vogue, and very hard it is toiling up the line in the dark and working for hours at all sorts of repair work —work which if I describe it will cause the censor to use his blue pencil. But that is where the Y.M. steps in and turns on free cocoa and biscuits. In the middle of the night or small hours of the morning it is always ready and hot for the tired, fed-up, weary boys on the way to their hard beds. Good old Y.M. We simply can't shake them off, so they go to Germany with us when wo go." "BROTHER TO BROTHER." "BE ORDINARILY DECENT." Writing on July 9 to his brother in Dunedin, a New Zealand soldier in France, who was killed in action five weeks after the date of his letter, refers to a delicate subject in term's which may strike home to some of the reservists that have yet to leave the dominion upon active service. We make the following extracts from the letter: — Bo you are coming, old chap, to the war. * I have been dreading for a long time that you would be. It must have been hard for you to stay so long, when everyone else was coming away. I know, old boy, that I left you by far the harder job of the two. Anyhow, let us hope that we may both be home again before long and none the worse for our experiences abroad. I will have to try to get wounded or something so as to get over to England before you arrive. It would be grand to meet over there and have a fly round. What I want to speak of is a very delicate subject, but I know you will understand your old stick-in-the-mud brother.

You might have heard about the barbedwire isolated camps. Well, if you have, it is only too right. Chaps come over to England' clean and healthy; they got on tho streets of London and that's the end of them so far as their self-respect and decency goes. It is a shame when one comes to think of it. Some of thcso fellows come away from New Zealand leaving good clean girls behind them, and sisters and mothers, think of them. I can't understand these chaps at all; they get away from homo and think they can do any mortal thing they like. If a joker who has no one waiting for him can bo true to the girl he may be lucky enough to have some day, surely these others, married men too. can be true to the girls and wives they have got. It's not often I speak like this, but I mean it, every word, and I know you will understand me as brother to brother.

This concerns everyone, and if you can influence any of your mates at any time you won't bo sorry afterwards. In-conclusion I will just ask you not to misunderstand me. 1 am not a good hand in talking about these things, but I think a lot, and, old chap, I am not a goody-goody chap as you know, but just try to bo respectable and ordinarily decent.