THE CALL TO ARMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15426, 15 August 1914, Page 2

THE CALL TO ARMS.

SOUTH CANTERBURY'S RESPONSE SCENES AT TIMARU RAILWAY STATION. GREAT ENTHUSIASM. Ilie first batch, of men to leave Timaru for the Sc-at of war got away by the first north-bound express yesterday when, amid scenes of great enthusiasm, 65 of the iniantry men were despatched fur the central camp at Christchurcli. Thero was a great gathering ot town and country people at the Dr. 11 Shed at one o'clock, when the men iell in. They were formed upon the road and the roll called by Captain Andrews. Captain Robinson informed the men that they would bo under control, of Sergt. Stevens until they reported at Christchurcli.

ADDRESS BY ARCHDEACON ' JACOB. After the roll call the Yen. Archdeacon Jacob, addressed the men briefly and said: "Men, you have responded promptly to the call of our Empire, to the call of country, and to the call of duty; and you arc now going out in obedience fo that call. We want you to know that we fire all very' proud of you. We shall follow you wth mauy prayers, au.l we know and feel that you will be loyji and brave. We all hope you will come back to us again. You must remember that we will all think of you a great deal, not; only your own people, but all the people of South Cantsibnry: There will be numbers and numbers cf peoplo who will pray o*.the Almighty God tbc.t' you may he kept true to your country and brought safely back. I now commit '"o-i to the caro of God, and pray that ■ Jlr mnv bless you all, and the cause for which you are setting forth." Three hearty cheers fol'owed for -the departing volunteers, and immediately rfterwards, to the stirring strains of the selcct'on "John Mull''' by the 2nd Regimental Band the detachment made their, way to the railway stat'on. The streets were lined with a groat concourse of people, and cheer after cheer followed the volunteers all along -the lino. The crowd grew gradually more dens? towards the town, and in the vicinity of the st-iion the thoroughfare. w«s p-actically blocked. Th'tv scene at the station was one never to ho forgotten. As the troops appeared in vew they were greeted with tumultous cheering; and Spectators gathered oil every possible point of vantage to cret a Inst glimpse of bovs in khaki. The express was waiting rnd as they marched on to the station tliev were given another gront ovation. The crowd by tit's time had grown to several thousands, and laws and by-laws were set nt nought for the time being. Men. T-nmon a'ul children cowded everv available inch of *p~ce at and around tf'e station, and those who could push I'nrdest got nearest to the volunteers. T'r\a l-,n<- r i'>idA seemed s\ poor protection for flic station, and mm and vouths over it .bv ■ , hundreds. Wh ; ]» f'e t'-vn was waitm;* tbe "Reaimpntnl B°"yl _»vp-ad"d. Street. nla'-i"g stivi-i«;r • a ; r». v.lrch .<rroo|i r pnlivuad t l '" ?"«!•?. while thSalvation Army played p;i J -"o*-.ic a :, "S.

TV'l'l enthusiasm r.nd e.Tprroseinc n+r'it'sm w.p.iv> t.lin ni".sf m--:in : nent ef the <- r owd but thero was aV-o a.n evident feeling amrngst mini- n" pnrrow and T*wref,. Women Wp~>t Mor wlvip. a . vouv>s?.er Generation s-bbc-d at the less or T'm srißiio brorsdit fnow to all something of the awfulne-ss of v.'ar.

THE MAYOR .SPEAKS. H : s "Worship the Mayor mounted a carriage and delivered a. parting msesage.to the "boys." his remarks be,n<r frecy punctuated w.th applause. On behalf of tho citizens of South Canterbury, Mr Guinness, who spoke under di'ep 'emotion, s;i_d 'll3 had very great pleasure in extending to the departing so'.d.crs hearty congratulat.ons on the majjn.fLee.it spirit they had shown in res:>..nd.ng so promptly to tho 'all to arms, and iji w.shing them all a. safe and speedy return. He hoped—as they all did, and sincerely believed —that their boys would return covered with glory. 'Kiev knew that they. eouid deysnd on them to uphold the host traditions of the British race, and that wherever they went, and in whatever circumstances they were piaced, they would quit themsajves like men, and serve the Empire to the very- best of their ability. (Applause.) Their gong away would make a break in many homes, and while parents were to bo sympathised with in losing their sons, they were also foTbe thanked and congratulated for tho great sacrifices they were making. It wouJd doubtless be some measure., of comfort to parents and sisters to know that the boys were responding to the call of duty r : ght uobiy; and that they would bs a credit to Timaru and the Dominion. (Applause.) Those who were going '.way now were worthy followers of those who had gone to the South African war —(hear, hear) —and though their going brought sorrow to the hearts of those they were leaving belrnd, he was quite sure that parents who were «o nobly giving up their sons for the Empire, would not have it. otherwise when duty called. Their patriofc'sm deserved the Irghcst encomiums. (Applause.) Again tho Mayor congratulated the departing soldiers, wished them i*ke best of good fortune on the battle field;, and said he knew it was umiecesL'ary for him to remind them to be ev:er true to their country and uheir Gcd. He then called for cheers, and th?se were given right heartily by the great crowd. The signal of readiness from the stationmaster was followed promptly by the of tho eng'ne, and'at'tho first .perceptible motion of . the long, heavily laden train, the a."'r was rent by one spontaneous outburst of cheering, through which .could be heard dimly the strains of "Rule Britannia,'-' from the B.eghnenta.l Bnnd, and "God be with ycu till we meet aga.n," from the Salvation Army nms : o : .ans. The cheering was "ontihucd till the train disappeared round* the curve at Carob'ne Bay, and the scene clcsed with the National Anthem by the 2nd Regimental Band.