NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST OVERSEA FORCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15047, 15 August 1914, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST OVERSEA FORCE.

THE ADVANCE PARTY'S FAREWELL

GREAT DEMONSTRATION IN

WELLINGTON.

STIRRING SPEECHES.

(SPECIAL TO '"THE VTLSSS." , ) WELLINGTON, August 14. An official farewell was tendered to tho members of the advance parly of the Expeditionary Force in tho Basin Reserve lato this afternoon, lip till tho middle of the afternoon tho Government had no idea that the- two transports would bo leaving for somo days. During tho afternoon, however, a, cable messago was 'received which made it necessary that tho departure of tho contingent should not be delayed. It wae ftt once arranged that an official farewell ehonild take placo. Tho only method of informing tho public was by means of posting notices in prominent places, and this was dono as far as possible.

About half-past four eovcral thousand j people assembled in tho Basin lleservo where tho force was drawn up and ad- j dressed by his Excellency tho Governor, j tho Prime Minister, tho Leader of tho I Opposition, tho Minister for Defence, and the Mayor of "Wellington. Great enthusiasm was displayed and tho scone which, as explained by the Prime Minister, was the prelude to tho despatch of tho first Colonial force to tho assistance of tho Mother Country, was a »-cry inspiring one. Tho men marched with firm and steady stops and created an even more favourable impression than that which was created when they marchod through the streets on Wednesday. The Governor appeared in uniform and General Godlcy and several other officers from headquarters wero present SPEECHES OF FAREWELL. His Excellency the Governor addroseod tlie troops. Ho said:-— Officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Expeditionary Force: it is very little over an hour and an half sinco I have received a telegram saying tihat you have got to leave tho shored of Now Zealand as soon as possible. Wβ have received orders from Homo that the' enterprise on which you are going is ono of great and urgent Imperial necessity. I am not going to mako a long speech to you, but wo feel we could not let you go from the shores of New Zea- .., land without wishing you God-speed. Wo know that" tho honour of tho Empire and this Dominion will be uphold by overy single man in this force. Wo know that you, in common with everyone of our fellowrsubjects arc determined to do your best to chow that there is only one Empire—one Groat Empire —in this war, and that wo are not going to be trodden on by ihe dictation of someone olse who wants to eot up such a supremacy as would mako it absolutely impossible for any other nation of tho world to exist. Leavetakings are always unpleasant things. —I have gone through thorn mysolf. I am not going to bid you good-bye, but wish you "An Revoir," and "a . speedy and successful issue to your expedition." We shall look forward with the greatest interest to all your doings; we shall watch over them. In conclusion, I have nothing better to say than "God bless you all. (Applause.) . PRIME MINISTER'S PARTING WORDS. Tho Prime Minister spoke as follows : — Officers, non-commissioned officers, j and men, —When tho Empire calls it j Js for the citizens of the Dominion I to , ' respond, and when the , JlJmpire calls it is for citizens to obey. When you leave our shores, probably within a few hours, you will carry with you tremendous responsibilities. I am sure that you all realise tbo great privilege that has been conferred upon you. Yon are going north to ! uphold the honour of New Zealand •and to fight for your King and country in the greatest crisis that the Jsmpiro has ever seen. That you will [ do your duty, and do it well; goes without eaying; When tho war is over, and peace reigns onco again, you will be better men for tho experience and discipline, and the Kmpiro will be a greater and nobler Empire than it lias ever been before. Our hearts go with you. Wo aro proud of you. We, who aro staying bohind to do the business of our country have tho satisfaction of knowing that the first eection of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force which is soon to leave our shores is tho first forco to leave the shores of an oversea Dominion to go to tho assistance of the Mother Country in her hour of need. I know that you will keep the flag flying, and that you will keep your faces to the foe. I wish you, not good-bye, but "Aα Revoir." I wish you "good luck" on behalf of the citizens of New Zealand. God bo •with you all till we meot again. (Applause.) ADDRESS BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. Sir Joseph Ward spoke as follows: — Tho call to arms which has gono ! forth to the troops of the Empire is for tho purpose of defending the Empire's existenco in a just war, and it is because of this that we are proud to be hero to-day to bid you farewell. You aro going north *o do battle not only on behalf of New Zealand, but on • behalf of the EmI piro as a whole. I have little to add to what has been so well said by his Excellency the Governor and the Prime Minister. The people of this country aro satisfied that they, with every confidence, place the honour of the Dominion in the hands of tho i officers and men who are about to I leave New Zealand. Wherever you

go I an! sure that you frill worthily uphold the high and,glorious traditions of the British race to which vrp. ara *ll proud to belong. I hope that liofore long we shall hear of tho Mieeoss of tho British troops wherever ' they may be, ami of victories on *ra and land, that, will help to maintain the British Empire intact, and so ensure the peace of tho world for another century to come. I, too, say to you "Au rcvoir." but not "Good- ' bye;'* fJoclspeed to you, and success and luck in.every way. (Applause.) j>EFKNCE MINISTER'S LAST MESSAGE. The Minister of Defence (tho Hon. James Allen) said :— ■ Colonel Lognn, officers and men: You have responded to tho Empira'a call, and aro going out to the country's call.- TUo country lias called "• upon you before and you hare nobly - responded. Tho responses has been '. equally good this time. You will » name- back, all of you, I hope, and add yet- another tradition to those

■which .New Zealand has already achieved for tho good of tho Empire. May you have good luck, and I kuotv that you will bo daring. I know when you hare to strike Joii will striko hard, and I know when you have to bo merciful you wffl be merciful. May you come back strong and well. God be with'you. Our hearts will be with you" all the time; (Applause.) Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr J ; P. Luke) eaid that the citizens cf r tVellington had every confidence that tie men would maintain tho traditions of tho Empire. On behalf of tno combined municipalities of Now 'Zealand, he wished thorn "Au revoir," "Godspeed," "Good ludt," and a epeedy return.

Turning to the spectators, ha Excellency thori said that before he called for three cheers for hie Majesty-the King, and three cheers for the Expeditionary Force, ho wanted to appeal to them to do nothing to hinder the em- "' barkation of tho men. LeaveUking* •- wore always unpleasant, but they dM;T' not want to havo any accidents; they/ ■wanted everything to go off without-» - hitch. r-.~. ; -. r -<: '-■■' i " ■—'* His Excellency callod for cheers for tho King, and 'thcro was an enthusiastic response. Cheers were theft called '" for the Expeditionary Foroo, &tA heartily given. From the croud H»tte tho cry "Throe cheers for tho Goter* nor," and again the response was a , hearty ono. , *■''-.''. Colonel Logan then tmrnod 'to <tlie troops and called for eheens fto'ty Excellency, and tho troops g»«f ibtse in a hearty manner. The' National Anthem was sung boforo tbo force inarched off to the wharf, viere* they immediately re-embarked. - FINAL LEAVETAKINGS. ;<- As the men marched up to the gates - of the wharf a few final touching leave- -> takings tvero •witnessed, mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts of several of -~■ the men availing themselves of tho Iwfc j*opportunity of saying good-bye to their ;\ loved ones. Tho public were nob permitted to pass through the gates on to the wharf. ....;• . i After the men were on board, the Q\ Prime Minister went on to th» wharf, •';-- and was accorded an enthusiaetio re* £-- ception, being cheered; again and again ■' '; by tho men. ' "'."' ALL PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. ' f J Speaking on the subject of the dcs» ~ > patch of the contingent in , the House to-night, the Prime Minister said that - in order to relievo any anxioty ,he' " might say that overy possible precattr.-* tion had been taEen by both the Jmpenal and Now Zealand Govornnwpts f to ensure the safety of tho nw-n who \ were going away, and of the ships. It ' - was impossible to go into details at pre;, sent, but in a few weeks tho public ' > would understand that everything po*- - •• sible had been done. Hβ was satisfied - • that all who were present at the faro- - .. well demonstration were proud of the - phvsiquo and courage of the men, ana < of "their readiness to assist their country and Empire in the time of cnMS. (Applause.) .„ , i 0 ,, Sir Joseph Ward heartily endorsed, - ;' Mr Massey's romarks. ;