THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 38

THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

NEW ZEALAND'S RESPOMSE 1 PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE ALLIES' UNBROKEN FRONT. STRONG, FREE. AND UNITED EMPIRE. WELLINGTON, January 26. Asked last night for an expression of opinion with regard to recent cablegrams as to the action of certain pacifists at Home, and as to the prospects of a big German offensive on the western front, Mr Massey said: " Apparently there are certain sections of British people who are willing to forget tho outrages of which British citizens and their Allies have been victims during the last three years and a-half, and who are desirous of finding excuses to make, peace with a powerful and unscrupulous foe, who, ever since the outbreak of war, by the foulest and most dastardly methods, has left nothing undone which would tend to the destruction of the British Empire. The British spirit ■ is, however, not yet crushed, and the strongest and- the best equipped army Britain* has ever put into the field still presents an unbroken front to the enemy. Whatever happens, it is for us, as their fellowcitizens, for whom they are fighting, to support them loyally and whole-heartedly, as .they deserve to be supported. There are many millions of British? citizens 'to-day, and along with them are our brave soldiers and heroic sailors, who would as _ soon think of making peace with a family of tigers as with the Kaiser and assassins, and expect any conditions agreed upon to bo adhered to. Judging by present appearances, there will be a. tremendous battle on the western front within the next few months —a battle which may decide the war. But, remembering all the battles and sieges in which General Haig and his men have played a magnificent part during" the war, we can have full confidence in the next clash of arms. I am convinced that in Haig, Beatty, and Robertson we have three great captains, worthy of the men whom they lead and the race to which they belong, and equal to the best that Britain has ever produced, and capable of defending Britain's honour in the most serious crisis we have ever been called upon to face. With the help of Divine Providence, who, in a just cause, helps those who help themselves, wo shall get through sue oossfully, and when it is all over the 'Red, White, and Blue' will still float triumphant over a strong, free, and united Empire." BASE RECORDS RETURN. THE MEN WHO HAVE RETURNED. WELLINGTON, January 25. A return dealing with the officers and men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who have returned to this country has been furnished to the Minister of Defence by the Base Records Office. The number of men who had returned on December 31 was 14,141. Particulars as to what has happened to these men are.:— Officers, n.c.o.'s, and men discharged and gazetted out as at November 30, 11,110. Officers gazetted out during December, including two nurses, 19. N.c.o.'s and men discharged in December (Samoan), 7. Officers, n.c.o.'s, and men returned to duty up to November 30, 1359. Officers and men returned to duty in December, 7 (less 4 since discharged). Officers, n.c.o.'s, and men awaiting return to duty, 31. Awaiting discharge, 299. Under treatment in hospital, 348. In convalescent homes, 14. Treated as out-patients, 265. On sick leave, 56. On special leave, 37. Deceased as at November 30, 50. Deserted, 2. In prison, 2. AWARD FOR GALLANTRY. Mr and Mrs H. Jacob, of Naseby, have received advice from tho Minister of Defence that their son, Sergeant E. O. Haddon Jacob, has been awarded the D.C.M. for distinguished 6ervico and gallantry in rield. At the battle of Passchcndaele Ridge the company of which Sergeant Jacob is a member, went in 250 strong and returned with only 26 men. All his officers were either killed or wounded, and ho took charge of tho company and to the fact that he led it through with distinction is due the award which he has secured. Sergeant Jacob left New Zealand with the Third Reinforcements, and saw service on Gallipoli Peninsula, as well as in France. He has been wounded twice —-once at Gallipoli and once slightly in France. He was born at Naseby and was educated at the District High School in that town. FATAL DEVOTION TO DUTY. Mr F. E. Hind, of Maltby avenue, Timaru, has 'received the following letter from Lance-corporal J. W. Robinson regarding the death of his son (Corporal W. E. R. Hind) on October 6, 1917:—" It will interest you to know that I was with Wattie when he was gassed. We had just taken over the Cambrai trench in the Yt?res sector from a Staffordshire regiment. Wattio (as we all called him) was in charge of the gas guard, and it was without doubt his keen devotion to duty and his thought for his mates that caused him to lose his life. A great number of gas sfiells_ were coming over, and Wattie was untiring in seeing that all the platoon was safe. To my own knowledge he had taken his mask _ off several times to test the air by smelling, thus running the risk of being gassed solely to let his mates know if it was safe to remove theirs. During a lull in the shelling ho had ius't taken his mask'off, and had sounded ' all safe,' and was holding his mask in his hand, leaning against the trench, when Fritz started shelling again. A gas shell came pver and burst on the parapet, within a few feet of him. Before putting on his own .mask ho gave the alarm," and. although he was gassed himself, went on with his duties, seeing that everyone was safe" and had received the alarm. He carried on after this for fully half an hour, and did not seem to have a

thought for himself so long as tho boys were safe; and. although it was easy to see he was suffering, would have continued to do so had he not been almost forced to go to the dressing station. There is no doubt that giving the alarm before putting on his mask cost him his life, although it' was tho means of saving his mates. Several of his old platoon mates are over here wounded, and have asked me to express to you their deepest sympathy, and to state that they consider your son's action was the means of saving a good many lives that night. Wattie was a man in the best sense of the word, and I hope these few lines from one of his mates will help a little in your sorrow." ■ WELCOME HOME. A welcome home was given on January 25 to Lieutenant Swan, late teacher at Otakou, in tho Otakou Hall. The welcome, which was very enthusiastic, took the form of toasts, songs, arid dancing. The toast of "Our Guest" was entrusted to Mr W. A. M'Donald (chairman of the school committee), who spoke very feelingly of Lieutenant Swan's qualities as a soldier and a man. He said that Lieutenant Swan had volunteered as a private, and by his determination and grit had gained a commission. Having been wounded he was invalided back to New Zealand. Messrs Bayne, Cross, Karetai, K. M'Donald, and Dick also spoke of the sterling qualities of Lieutenant .Swan, and heartily welcomed him back to Otakou. Lieutenant Swan thanked all present for the - welcome, and said that, although far away from Otakou, h.e had never forgotten them, even in the thickest of the battle. Mr J. Dick then proposed the toast of "Our Absent Boys at the Front," which was drunk amidst applause. After this toast Mr Dick requested the audience to stand for one minute in silence in memory of our fallen heroes. SOLDIERS SENTENCED. TWO YEARS' HARD LABOUR. .Trentham Camp orders state that the following soldiers, having been found guilty by District Court-martial of disobeying lawful commands given by their superior officers, have been sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with hard labour: No. 71,942 Private William M'Kenzie, Details. •No. 71,939 Private Howard Hopkins, Details. No. 71,945 Private Daniel Brosnan, Details. RED CLOSS FUND (OTAGO). Previously acknowledged ... # ... £538 16 8 Women's Patriotic Association, , Becks, collected in watch-gues- . sine competition at Central Otago A. and P. Show ... 2 4 0 " A Humble Organ-grinder," weekly oilering 0 2 6 Total ... -£541 3 2 PATRIOTIC ART UNION. A concert to mark the drawing of an art union in aid of patriotic purposes was held in the A. and P. Hall, Middlemarch, on Friday last, and was attended by a moderate audience. Before proceeding with the programme, Mr A. MTCinnon (president "of the Patriotic Committee) asked the audience to stand in memory of the late Private N. H. M'Dougail', news of whose death had recently been received. The chairman reviewed the war situation paying a fine tribute to the results achieved by the Navy Leagiie3 of the Empire, and contrasted the economic conditions obtaining in Great Britain and in New Zealand. He explained that half of the proceeds of the entertainment was to be donated to the local A. and P. Society, and that the remaining half was to form a nucleus of a fund which would be raised in the future to provide a fallen soldiers' memorial. A member of the audience pointed out that a fund for the latter purpose was already in existence, it having been some six months ago, at a public meeting of residents; but the chairman denied all knowledge of the matter. The programme consisted of items given by Misses Easther, M'Cuilough, Renwick, R. Lome, and Masters A. and L. Horn. "' JOTTINGS. A soldier from. Maori Hill writes from France under date November 26 to inform Mr Chas. Beeby, sen., that his son, Rifleman Cecil Beeby, had been awarded the M.M. for keeping up communication when all his "runner chums were done for. That, continues the writer, was deserving of more than the Military Medal. "I hear on all sides that ho should have been awarded the D.C.M., and personally, for such as he did, I' think the same." Rifleman Beeby gained' a reputation for gameness from the first day he got into the trenches, and no one will be more pleased than his' soldier comrades that ho has now been officially decorated. Six Pudsey and Galverley wool manufacturers and dyers were found guilty at Leeds Assizes of evading tho income tax and the excess profits tax, and were sent to prison in the second division for terms ranging from three to eight months. The -Vttorney-gcneral, who prosecuted, said that a total of £20,000 would have been lost to the revenue. According to regulations issued a tew weeks ago regarding the sale of shoes in Germany, one new pair of shoes only can bo sold to the holders of a special permit if the holders have handed to the shoe controller two pairs of old shoes unfit for wear. The latter are used for repairs, thus preventing waste of leather. Tho name of Brigfidiei-general A. Carton do Wiart, V.C., D. 5.0.. appeared last month in the list of wounded for tho ninth time. . A Chancery lane solicitor, who has already served two sentences on_,aocount of his conscientious objections, was last month court-m.art.iallod for tho third time. Sumptuary law has at last struck a blow nt women in Great Britain. From the beginning of this year no boots for women with uppers exceeding 7in in height, if of leather, or Sin in height, if of any other material, from the seat, of tho heel to the hi chest point of the ton of tho upper ruay bo manufactured or sold without a permit from tho Director of Raw Materials. PERSONAL. Gunner "K. J. Skinner ("Ken"), R.N.Z.A., who diied at Etaples, France, on the 17th inst.. of pneumonia, ivna the fourth son of Mr James Skinner, of Maitland street. Deceased, who was only 22 years of age, be-

longed to a. fighting family. He was •educated at the Christian Eros. School, and for a while followed farming pursuits, but later joined the Permanent Artillery, and was stationed at Invereargill. Young Skinner, who was a popular footballer, like his brother "Jim" (the well-known Otago representative forward, who is a gunner on special service), played Rugby for the Athletic, Invereargill, and also for the Dunedin Club. He left with the 23rd! Reinforcements. An elder brother, Arthur, who went away with the Australians, was killed in action some time ago. Another brother, "Bob," recently returned after lengthy service. An uncle, the Rev. Father Skinner, is a chaplain at the front. Much sympathy will be felt for Mr ar.d Mrs Skinner in their recent loss. He was a bright, promising lad, and a bom soldier. Trooper Francis Joseph Kinney, whoso death occurred somewhere in France, was the youngest son of Mr Patrick Kinney, of St. Clair, and late of Hyde, Trooper Kinney was born and educated at Hyde, and always worked on his father's farm. Upon his father's retirement from farming he and his brother worked the farm under the name of Kinney Bros. He volunteered for the front early, but was unsuccessful, and left in the 27th Reinforcements. Trooper Kinney was of a ojiiet, unassuming manner, and was well liked and respected by all who came in contact with him.

Private J. D. Haugh, reported killed in action, was the eldest son of Mr and the late Mrs D. Haugh, of 'Wyndham. Private Haugh was born at Dunrobin, and was 34 years of age. For some time he was shepherd on Moa Flat Station, where he was highly esteemed by all who knew him. About eight years ago he left for the North Island, where he enlisted with the 26th Reinforcements. He was married to Miss M'Gill, of Napier. Second Lieutenant A. Lorie, late of Mornington, who was killed on Dccembai 28, served as a private in the Samoan advance gifard. He returned to New Zealand, and went away with the sth Reinforcements, serving on Gallipoli till the evacuation. He remained constantly on duty with the 3rd (Auckland) Regiment until, after long and continuous service in France, he was sent to the Cambridge University Officers' Training l Corps. After a short training in this and other -officers' corps, he was appointed to the 6th (Hauraki) Regimemt. He fought in nearly all the principal battles in which New Zealand troops were engaged in France, and escaped wounds until the conclusion of the battle of Messincs. Recovering after a few days at a rest camp, he returned to the front, but was gassed and sent to hospital in September. He could .not have been back in the firing line long before he met his death. Lieutenant Lorie was the only son of Mrs S. E. Lorie, of Pokeno. He was eduacted at the Wanganu' Collegiate School and later in Auckland. Before enlisting he was forming 1 in the Waikato district. Private advices stato that he has been mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatches.