THE MOUNTED RIFLES CAMP.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11578, 14 October 1901, Page 3

THE MOUNTED RIFLES CAMP.

Yesterday morning the men, under the command of Captain Wood, marched _ to St. Mary's Church for Divini service. There was a large congregation, the church being well filled. The. troopers were seated in a body near the west end. During the service hymns 35, 437, 391, and 376 were sung, these.being printed on slips for the service. The Archdeacon preached from I. Cor., lochp., 13 v., "Watch ye, standfast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." It was now nearly-eighteen months since there had been a muster of volunteers in that church for Divine ssrvice, and a special significance seemed to attach to the present gathering, as compared with the preceding one. For at that time the great war in Africa was in its earliest stages of progress. It had already become a record of eventful experiences, of strange alternations of reverses and successes, of victory and defeat, due to the novel conditions d the warfare, and to the unparalleled difficulties met with by our armies in the great continent of South Africa. The dominant note in their minds when they met on the last occasion was one of fiery enthusiasm. A great enterprise was in hand, and we in this country were taking -and feeling our full share in" it, <ynA all men's hearts were ablaze with thoughts of what was going to.be done for the great Empire to which they belong. It was impossible to meet again at this time without somewhat different feelings. The fire of the first enthusiasm was dead, though the war still continues, and is proving one of the most arduous ever encountered by the British Army. There was of course no sort of doubt as to the issue, but now we can count the cost in a manner that was scarcely possible eighteen months ago. New Zealand had had its share of the terrible loss of splendid men, by the sickness, bullet, and violent death that every soldier faces when he goes forth to war. The sad side of war had come home to us in this district, as in all parts of the colony, and the many homes and hearts saddened mode us all reflect and count the terrible cost of a great war. For various reasons the present war would not compare,

in cost of life, with many of the wars of our nation. Modern inventions, improved medical aid, facilities of transport, a higher degree of innate humanity which now restrain many of the barbarities of the old soldiering days—all these things contributed to reduce the loss of life and mitigate the sufferings and the horrors which accompany a great war. A hundred years ago a loss of life of 50 per cent, was not unusual—a loss beyond all comparison with the losses in these days. At the storming of Badajoz, for instance, 3500 British soldiers were killed outright lin the assault on the citadel; and at (■Waterloo the Duke of Wellington lost [ 15,000 men, though his armies were small compared with our 200,000 now serving in South Africa. They could not forget what a terrible thing is war, the waste of life, the bodily suffering, the life-long injury to thousands who escape with life, the homes sorrowing for sons who will never return. We count the cost, and it is good to do so, and to remember what the cost of war means. That cost is not to be reckoned in pounds, shillings, and pence, but in human suffering, and reflecting on this matter should help us to realise the true meaning of life. For life must always be a battlefield, and men must " Watch, stand fast, quit themselves like men," in the battle of right doing, and against the enemies of purity, honour, temperance, honesty, and truth; and the rewards for valour in this warfare are prepared in the future life. Real difficulty, suffering, and sometimes death itself, has to be faced in this warfare of the soul. This life is not a playground, and the war brings this home to our consciences in a, very special manner. Three years ago volunteering was looked upon as a pastime, a sort of recreation, a species of sport, which in»some aspects be ranked with other national sports. It mras so no longer, since volunteers - had been called upon to. take part in real warfare, in a greater war than the Empire had. known for fifty years. The volunteer force of the Empire must now take itself seriously. Volunteering is no longer a mere recreation, or a mere healthful sport; not play, but real business. Volunteering now includes real self-sacrifice. It contains all the essentials of a sport or recreation for bodily welfare, but' it has been brought into a higher category, lifted up to a, higher standard; and henceforth we must give volunteering greater honour than is due to any sport. Play or sport may degenerate into a neglect of the serious work of life, into dubious habits and. I waste of time and money, and when a sport becomes a business, good-bye to all its wholesome and healthful influence. | There is no risk of that in volunteering. ! It is a splendid sport, but by its discipline it trains men both in body and mind; it gives all that any sport can give, readiness of muscle and eye; it teaches the individual to sink himself in the body ot his comrades, to be obedient, and to do what he is ordered to do without questioning whether he likes it or not; and it means a gain of self-restraint that must be of great value in the battle of life. Some of those now in the volunteer ranks might yet be called upon to go forth and follow those .who had already laid down their lives for the Empire, who deserved the sinceresfc honour, the greatest respect, and grateful memory. The Archdeacon hoped that the movement to set up a memorial to those who had represented in death on the battlefield this part of New Zealand, would be carried out. He mentioned that he had seen in churches and cathedrals and public places in, the Old Country many such memorials to the dead of gallant regiments, and he hoped that the names of South Canterbury men who had fallen would be inscribed in some suitable way, in some public place, that they might keep their memory fresh. Such a memorial would tell a story in years to come of the beginnings of the history of' this country, telling future generations that the 3 men of this day thought of soriW thing more than pleasures and money-, making; that they were prepared to go forth with their lives in their hands at the call of duty, their lives and their example bidding their contemporaries and their posterity to "Stand, fast, quit you like men, be strong." In the afternoon the camp was visited by a great people, there being a constant stream coming and going along North street from 2 o'clock tUI after 6 o'clock. _The visitors at one time must

have totalled about 2000, young and old. The weather being beautiful, the onting was much enjoyed, a pleasant time being passed in listening to excellent music by the band, visiting various tents and inspecting the camp arrangements, and partaking of afternoon tea, which was provided by Mr Budd on behalf of the corps for all the visitors.

During the afternoon, the Mayoress, Mrs Macintosh, put into force the arrangements made at a meeting- of ladies at ,the Town Hall on Saturday, for taking up a collection in aid of the "Deceased Troopers' Memorial Fund." The treasurer to the fund informs us that the sum of £l7 9s Id was collectetd, and a further sum of £3 7s 6d promised. The thanks of the com-

mittee are due to Mr Priest, who suggested the idea, to the Mayoress and her staff of young lady • assistants—Misses Priest, Mee (2), Gunn, Cresswell, Beckingham, Ziesler, Wood, Bowie (2), and Tennent—for their valuable srvices, to Captain Wood and to the troopers who kindly assisted the ladies in collecting subscriptions, to the " Timaru Post" for their gift of silk badges for the lady collectors, and to the " Timaru Herald " for printing the notices "Pay Here," which, pinned on the breast of the stalwart troopers assisting, created much amusement. It was ori-

ginally proposed to have another collection by the ladies for the same purpqse at the sports of the. Mounted Rifles on Thursday next, but the committee think that it would be hardly fair to the corps to tax their time and kindness further, and. therefore propose merely to place some boxes in prominent positions in the camp on that day, so that those who have not

yet given may, if they feel so inclined, contribute to the memorial. The committee also wish to intimate to those who

promised donations that they can, if it is not convenient to pay the young ladies to whom the donations were promised, leave them at the Bank of New South Wales, who are the bankers to the Memorial

Fund. In thanking the treasurer for placing the above information at our disposal, we will be glad to-acknowledge, from time to time, subscriptions received by him or bv members of the committee in aid of the fund.

To-day the duties at camp will be similar to those of Saturday—foot and mounted drill. Lieutenant Brown, of the statf, takes charge of the drill in place of Sergeant-Major Crespin, who left for Christchurch on Saturday. To-morrow

the corps will be inspected by the officer commanding the district.. Lieutenant Elworthy is orderly officer to-day, and Lieutenant Kirkland next for duty; Sergeant Whittaker is orderly sergeant. Corporal Youdale orderly corporal, and Trumpeter Craigie orderly trumpeter! The men were to be out for duty at 5 o'clock this morning.