FAREWELL!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 123, 17 October 1914, Page 6

FAREWELL!

TO NEW ZEALAND'S CITIZENS . AND SOLDI tvl«. GENERAL GODLKV's MESSAGE^ By Telegraph.—Per I'ics Association. Wellington, Oct. 15. General Godley h eut tile following to the Press:— "On leaving the Dominion in command of the New Zcaiaad Expeditionary Force, 1 wish, on us behalf, to thank ail ranks of the vii'iz'-n army, both permanent and territorial for liie loyal support and assis'tauee they have given in it's formation.

"it must ibo a great .satisfaction to the Regiment ol Ule. ituyul Vew Zealand Artidery officers, JiJ New Zealand stall' Corps, wairam and iion-eoaiunis-sioiicd olfieers ol tin Mew Zealand Permanent stall', ciu'ieai an.l starts stall's, and the ranks ol tae T. rrii'urial Force, to r.a.ise that their hard work and devotion to duty <;iir:;!g liie pasti year has succeeded m iiiM.r.; ,u well and linelyi organ.ased., lio.ly oi men a,j t'ht expeditionary foKe wiie h 1 have the honor to command. llt el a.so that we owe a deep deb; m' grai.ii'jje to the old volunteers and their' organisation oil which the Territorial scheme waß based. Not only they, but also other branches of the citizen aimy, rille' ehibu, and cadets, may feel that they have an ] important siliare in the result th.it' has 'been obtained. To all tin.: Iwyal New 'Zealand Artillery, New Zealand Staff Corps, New Zealand Permanent Staff, clerical and stores stall", Territorial force, volunteers, riile u.vfJi, and cadets 1 wish to express on behalf of the expeditionary loree our deep sense of giatttiude and thanks ior their services and for .the apir.t which has made possible the .preparation of a force so i worthy to represent New Zealand, and i so well litted tgi do valuable service! for blie Eai|pire. "I would impress upon ail ranks, and 1 on lail ibranehtM of the service, the' vital necessity for continuing to maintain in the absence of the expeditionary force the same high standard of effort, not only in ordor that drafts of equal value shall be despatched to reinforce it, but ateoi that the sclume of universal training for the defence of the Dominic n shall in no way suffer b&i our absence.

"To all citizens and all classes of the community, I wish also to express the gratitude of the expeditionary force for the support and atsutance they have given us, to the ladies who hai e worked so hard to provide comforts and necessaries for the troops; to the business community, who have helped (materially and financially; to 1 the farmers who Slave given -us of their best in the way of 'horses and forage; to the professional classes who have ungrudgingly, and as a rule, gratuitously, given us vheir skilled assistance; to all classes of labor, who have worked with a will and at high pressure to meet our reKfuiremcnts ,at i/hort notice; to all branches of the Government service; to municipal and other .public ladies; and to all who have subscribed so liberally to tho various patriotic funds we owe on- most grateful thanks.

"I wish especially lo acknowledge the way in which the Press of .the Dominion as a wholo has loyally; observed tlh e restrictions rendered neoessary <by the stance of the'help and support "which state of war. l\, is onlyi another in],ractically all the newspapers of the country have given to military authorities during Uie past four years of work in connection with the inception of the scheme of universal training. "Thanks to tJie efforUj of the community, with respect to the expedilion- ■ aiy force, and t)hc support of the people in the cause of universal training, we leave the shores of New Zealand well rrmed, well equipped, and it will be the aim and endeavor of every man of the force to prove worthy to represent New Zealand when he finds himself ranged in Ellrope alongside the other forge of the Empire. For myself, I feel that I cannot adequately express to the peopl-3 of the country my gratitude for all the kindness and sympathetic support 1 have received throughout my ■ tenure of command of the New Zealand citizen army. I can only say that in return for it all I will do my best for the expeditionary force which they have entrusted lo ny care, and that it is my earnest ho 1 ;),, that 1 may return witli I i'- to the Dominion, and'so revisit the | many friends I have made in the eoimIn,- wit.h which I am proud to be so tlimoii-flily identified, and of which I h:.pe J may lie allowed (<> feel mvself almost a citizen'. I w'idi i.Uo to' express to the people my heartfelt thanks for the valuable jrjfi of a sword of honor which they have presented mo with on my departure in comtman-.I of the foiw. I shall value it particularly beuu.se it enmits fain the people." anil, if -such thing were needed, it will always lie a del : ."htful winimler to me of the ktppv days 1 hive spent in the formation of tho citizen army of the country.

•Ladv Cndley wishe,, mie to add how Sorry she is to be leaving the Dominion, and that she hopes verv much to return with me. to see it uii-1 all her f■. imds." (Signed) AT.EX. CODIFY, fiencral Officer Commanding New Zc-al.-i.nd Kxpcditi-o-nary Force.