FAREWELL TO THE NINETEENTHS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14146, 25 July 1916, Page 4

FAREWELL TO THE NINETEENTHS.

GREAT GATHERING' AT THE DRILLSRED.

STIRRING SPEECH BY

MR J. S,

EVANS.

The farewell to the Nineteenth Reinforcements^ draft took place m the Drillshed last evening in conjunction, With the closing -night of Paddy's Market in aid of the Sick and Wc.unded Soldiers' Fund. The building \as packed with spectators. As the men marched on to the stage they were accorded' 'arij enthusiastic reception. The National Anthem having been sung, Mr J. S. Evans, S.RL. addressed the gathering. He said he had been askedto say farewell to the men on behalf of the citizens of Nelson. Thsy were going to take their places amongst thefinest soldiers tho world had ever known. (Hear, hear.) They were going to stand shoulder to shoulder with, men who had come from the four corners of the earth to stand by Britain in her hour of need. These iaen had chosen themselves to go forward to tiphold our honour in this struggle. There was no need to remind them of the justice of the cause, which was the cause of justice and humanity. He was satisfied they would uphold the honour of this part of the Dominion, as the others who had gone before had done. 'Hear, hear.) "The track has "been blazed for you men of the Nineteenth," continued the speaker. "It is blazed by thecrosses on Gallipoli; it is blazed by the desolation in Belgium; it is blazed by the waste of Fiance. You will have nodifficulty in finding your way. The men v/hd have gone before have left their trail. Some of you may not come back, but I am satisfied that you will play the man." (Hear, hear.) The men before him had recognised their duty, and were going to do it. But-'every duty carried a correlative obligation. jTha't was to say. every duty performed or necessity called for a corresponding; obligation from the person for "whom; that duty was undertaken. "You," said Mr'Evans, "arc tho men we have selected—no, not selected, you have volunteered to undertake- a duty on our behalf. The obligation, therefore, is upon us—upon every -one of us to see that justice is done to you when " you return." The war was' forced en us, and it must be carried through to the end Isy men and money. An endeavour was now being made to raise money for the sick and wounded soldiers and their dependents, and the duty upon those remaining 'behind to iind money, was as binding and imperative as any, duty that fell op men eligible to go to the front. (Hear, hear). Every man who went to the front and came back, ! whether he was wounded or not, was entitled to have somochlng to start him. in life again,-for what he had sacrificed. (Cheers.) The burden lay on us, apart from any Government taxation. All sorts of excuses were mado by persons for not giving. A :nau might say he could do what he liked with his own money, but no man that night could nay that his money was his own. His ledger was bound sn ••khaki," the entries were mado in "red,'" and these men who were going to the front were the ' 'quill drivers." If these men did not go to the front the man who would not give would have nothing to give. Every JK:an who had the ability to give ant? did not give was a bigger shirker than any man who would not go into the trenches. (He;ir, hear, and cries of "Rub it in.") Ho ;is'u-d those present, <;Am I entitled, on \our behalf, to pledge to these men 'tli.it Nelson wilt {do its duty to thorn when they return?" There was an. enthusiastic reply in the affirmative, and Mr/Evas.'?, turning to tho reinforcements, proceeded :--"0n behalf of this meeting ] have to assure yon that on your return you will have nothing to be ashamed cf in us." He them wished t!n> men a safe journey and thjit they would Totuvn erathless, and said he was -satisfied that these who might not retain ••vould have played the man. (Applause.)

Three hearty oheeis were then given, for the reinforcemfciit.-!, and the formal farewell closed with the singing of. the National Anthem.

It was announce:! that the National Eerserve Band vouid play the men to Fort Nelson at oA* this morning.