“SONS OF THE BLOOD.”

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 36

“SONS OF THE BLOOD.”

We may well leave it to our readers to recall the intense enthusiasm that spread throughout the length and breadth of the colony when it became known that New Zealand had decided to stand side by side with England on the field of battle. Nor need we dilate at length upon the momentous consequences of that decision. Following the lead given by Mr. Seddon, all the other great British colonies came forward with offers of help; and in the end, our enemies and rivals, who had hoped and believed that England’s strength was broken, and her decadence had begun, saw with awe and envy a body of “colonials” fighting under the British flag in South Africa, greater in numbers than the whole British force which defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. New Zealand led the way for the rest of the Empire to rally round the British flag; and the word that evoked this great outburst of national feeling was spoken by Mr. Seddon. So far as New Zealand was concerned, her people responded eagerly to the call. Two contingents were rapidly despatched; and for the moment it was felt tliat our work was done. But then came the “black week” of Stormberg, Mugei-fontein and Colenso, and the country clamoured for an even more convincing display of our patriotic fidelity to the Motherland. Between October, 1890, and April. 1902, no less than ten contingents were sent from these shores to South Africa, comprising in all 4710 officers and men classed as “mounted infantry,” and 1710 busimicu. That this little country should be ready to offer more than 6000 efficient troops for foreign service in England's quarrels was an object lesson to the world, the impressiveness of which can hardly be over-estimated. We need hardly add that the conduct of our troops and their record in the actual work of fighting, merited, and received, the highest praise from the most experienced and capable of the British commanders. However, our present object is not to --rite a detailed history of the South African War, but to indicate the vast Imperialistic significance of the great colonial movement in support of England, and to emphasise beyond aught else the leading part played in that movement by Mr. Seddon.