Patea & Waverley Press. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1940 PRIMUS IN ARMIS

Patea Mail, 5 January 1940, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1940 PRIMUS IN ARMIS

THE Second Echelon of the Special . Force that is being raised to assist in the defence of the Empire is due to leave for the mobilisation camps on Friday next January 12th. So far the number of recruits offering in Taranaki is approximately 150 short of the total required, but it is sincerely to be hoped for the sake of the honour of the province that, the necessary number of men will come, forward before the date mentioned, The motto of the Taranaki regiment is ‘ ‘ First in warlike matters. ’ ’ It would be a blot on the escutcheon of the regiment if it were to be said in, the years to come that Taranaki men were the last to come forward and offer to serve their country in her hour of need. That the need is pressing is slioavii by the fact that the Mother Country is calling up an additional three millions of men by March next. This call would not be made unless those in authority were convinced that it was necessary for the Empire to throw the whole- of its weight into the scale to ensure victory. According to the latest reports it is more than possible that the flames of war will spread until the. whole of the Near East is ablaze. Russula, who sought at first to gain her ends by peaceful penetration, is now reported to lie massing troops on the Afghan frontier, and also is likely to be moving in Eastern Europe, with the result that the present war may result in Armageddon, It therefore behoves every able bodied man of military age to come forward now and offer to defend those near and dear to him. It has been truly said that the present war is one in defence of eivilisatio. If anyone doubts this one

has only to road the accounts of the events that are happening daily. The enemy is acting in a way that is contrary to all laws of civilisation and humanity. In the last war the Lusitania was sunk without warning, and hospital ships as well. In the present Avar the conduct of the enemy is even Averse. The crcAVS of ' harmless fishing boats are machine-gunned from the air, and creAvs of merchantmen that have been sunk are turned adrift in boats Avhen over 100 miles from land. Only last week a British steamer, the Uskmouth Avas shelled by the creAv of a submarine as the "Uskmouth’ men Avere abandoning their ship. , Everyone knoAvs that life in this country or any other part of the British Empire Avonld not be Avorth living if Germany Avon the Avar, for the Gestapo" Avonld take the place of the present judicial system, and concentration camps and firing squads Avould everyAvhere be found. It is to prevent this state of affairs taking the place of British Ihav, and order that onr men of military age are asked to come forAvard and bear arms. We hope for the sake of the glorious tradition of the province that there Avill be no banging back on the part of those of military age, and that the necessary quota Avill be forthcoming Avithout delay so that the motto of the regiment, “Primus in Amis” may still hold good..