CITY'S FAREWELL TO TROOPS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2229, 15 August 1914, Page 8

CITY'S FAREWELL TO TROOPS.

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« MISTER ROLL OF THE ADVANCE PARTY

:," ; 'A. public .faieweilvtoVthe'advance party p ■-■-. was .'given in J ' ■';'v',jiho ' Basin Eeseryo :■ at i.30 p.m.jesterday. -5 o .v. l -. jxjnly been.' given a'.'few hoursVearlior, there v -v'':-was a. : , gather'in'g.'.df-'.-oyer:5000- spectators JJ:y !, at the Basin. -.Tho',troops inarched; from j thetroopships y "■; iihad anchored', earlier! in'tiho day,.'through J' y>' : -Vstreej^line^'lwiilh : ; : ; ~!.3y a cheer..was raised,■■ffroiri. ship's, side { ;V : .' '"torthe'^park;^That" the;time'for denidn-' ;■-•: was byer' was realised 'by every- I : -tne'who saw tliat. long bixiwh.line of men; t ".-: ; .':;|.it' : 'was''the ; ;eve-of.a.'momentous occasion.- t :v4 '2; Colonel Logan,-who commands the force, i ' ; ' ')fsrmed"the-meii" ihto'isquare ''formation,' r -'A.-,- iiiihdi- then'iJlis Excellency -the'- ■ Governor « : .':: l (Lori Liverpool), -wearing 'a,' ;dark, greeS, 1 -..'u ai"'litafy : 'ivhifor,m, arrived to'gjve ihomen ;• .'). .:■ ■& fitting seu'd-off::* An. inspection was first- - ' .-'■■;'■ onade by/His Excellency, 'accompanied by .'-' ; ' ■'' Major-Gen.eral -Sir Alexander' Godley, ; tho, 1 v;;;' Srime Minister .'(the Right' Hon. W. F- ' : Massey);.thelfinisterof Dofence(the Hon. < '-.■'"■'■' J: Allen), the Minister of-.Marjne (the Hon. ' •'- • X. li-'B.'.Fisher),'.'tho Minister of Rail- i ■ •*' : - -v&yg (the 'Hoh."'W.- H. •: Herries), the ; Min- ' -•■■.: , '-.;Vj«ter'"of-Publie'-Works (the-Hori. W-' Fra- .' i :: .ifer),;-the Minister., of. Native. Affairs -'(tho i ; - OTiihV'Br. Poihare),' and the Leader of the I ; -V- ,o'pposition '(Sir.'Joseph Ward).; The usual ' '.'/.,-.pomp and, splendour'.of military, reviews. •' r-"..- (was missing; this'was a'reyiew the like.of -.i "i' T'which has ''not .been seen -'since the days l when.the same call of < V - ■ j- vtho;Motherland was. answered : in. a simi-' - '';■>>. uar'''manner." Thero was line. after line of' i ; v /;'-.'picked"young men,' 1 .-serious-faced, and ■;':\:--\ showing- a.realisation'-.of; that: which was r;-,,;4ikely,tecbme^; : ;'';.. ■^■■'■'■<:'/:i: : :' : V ! ..''- : :.-■' : .' : '»A : 'Great.'ahd''Uraßnt'itnpePlal ; --' : '.:;;."'' ( '.': ■"' . Necßssity.7 .' .:.■'•■: /ft : '■''.:-.' JMie oyer, "ffiß' Excellency i-:V (rtade*a,'definite.statement;.of''.the greatest :'"i- -'interest...' ,'.'T. r pu' : .have, .got'; to, leavo : tho j 1 -.;": }s'tior.es-,of New Zealand as soon .as;: pos- }??:>'■■ fable.' l '--'.■.''"; ,'sTho ''onterpriso' on which. 'v.-' -%' tou are going.is.. one, of/great and nrgent' ■i. ■:-:■ imperial .necessity." The Governor's mes- . -,■': v'eage'-was delivered in.a loud .Tinging voice ,-.->; Jto.the'Forcß, but;those.vital wotos reach- • : .V .'\ed. the spectators : , gathered, .all oyer the V.-?-..!'';>stand and lawn behind..\Ohly : a faint -. ■; - .Jiihfmur arose,! and'. His;' Excellency went ' -!'. (on to deliver a-short '-.and',' encouraging ;:*'^-Beseech*to:'.the'-men/-who' : ..were_ standing Vi. - -(tensely : listeningf to -.that : all-important ''• .'.'■(■ message. .;His Excellency admitted, that ■'■$:':■',■■ he was ■.."'.(not going to say. *'Good T bye."- He would ;, ■;,: )6nly/ say" '-'Aii.'. until .^weY-ineet '.!•,; could have been.-better, *'->.;,for, the wish-of'everyone was expressed tinr.tthdsa, words. -"Godf-jbless 1 you .all, , {-,:; '■ .were the'concluding, words.uttered' by the . ' '.flCing's representative to men about;to set '-:;.J»tifcto,upholdithe'King'6.Dominion.-, ■,■■■ K '■■ii.Stirring": patriotic Speeches, followed. '■■.' 'OTher-Prime' -Minister-'sounded- that optii- after \ ithfr"wayothef.;-:expedittonaTy forces-have, \ : >ehown theif'; : 'metal".''6n -■ foreign■■ Shore3i; 1 (when facingt f a: common.'' enemy, of the (.'lEmpire. •. "You'are-going,forth to up\7hold.the New/'Zealand, .and \ jto' King'.and-country in: \the .greatest crisis .that-the.Empire has (ever seen.*- That you -will do! your duty, J and do it, well, Jgdes: without:" saying." Were .the.-words .of ■'.Hr.'-i:Massey. .. Sir .'Joseph Ward sounded an Imperial. note in speaking.'Vahd-'inspiring.addresses,were • 'sjsb given iby the 'Minister, of. ■ D.efencei kndithe Maypr of' Wellington. "Then- His Sxcelleiicy - led in', cheers... for -.the King ind-.' for.'.' the ; Expeditionary Force, ■■: and iese were given in. no half-hearted manler. ■' The .speeches, given,were all brief, )nd .well jbhosen. ;-;;,' . : ;:■■■ .'..'■ ;' ;f - ■■' <; '■);■ His Excellency's (Speech; ; : : His Excellency the. Governor said:— ;'"olTicers,' hon-comniissioried officers, 'and men', of i the; Expeditionary..Force,—lt, is very little "over ;an : hour and",a. half since/ I !".have.;.received- a .telegram saying that' you have got to:-leave 'the-shores of New-Zealand ; as soon as .possible. -We .have -received -orders .'"from Home that on which, you• are ; -going : ss' one of great 1 and'urgent- Imperial inecessity.- I am. not going to make a long JBpee'ch!'to felt wo 'could -not .'let! you-go from the of Now. Zeajland '. "without""wishing : you God-: 'speed..,., We .: know • that- the' hon-; -our "of the Empire -and .'this'-Dominion-f ivill-be-.-upheld^by-eyery.,.single_man:.jtf, -. this force.. We'know that you, in obm- ", ( moi with everybhef'.bf'our , fellow sub- '■'. jects/.are determined to do your best to; ;"'"■ 'i 6how\'-that.: there,, is ; only -one-.-Empire— ',; ■. one. great this .war';'and that ; ' ;we are not going to be trodden oh by tho .■'dieta'ti6S'"'df'6onieone relse;! who ':warits:'to) .:." ~ : Betß u p"'snch-a''supremacy-;as:would;.make •'■- 'it' 3 .'"ibsolntely.--:impossible'.»-for.iany:'other, ;', the,'world:to:exist. /Leave-tak- :,'. 'ihgS'-aTe-.-alTOjs uhipleasant things; I ;:!■■':" - 'havb'J'g'orie' 'throngh'-them"-: myself.-.:I am: '■■ ; ; "not going, to'-bid' you--"goodbye/' but wish ; ;.:;- ''au-'rovdir,'' a-'speedyj.aiid.successful • . - : ossue to your expedition, ■: and we'shall :' '■;'■ : 'look! fbrwardV-with.. the" ; :greatest, interest 1 ':.;"'..;. to all.-your. doings; w.eVsnail : ,watch over! H' them.- In conclusion,-I have nothing Ijet-: ,c;.: ; :''-. ter : to s say than'. "God, bless you. all." ;i;;;. .(Applause;)--..-V-V;:--.'V.;-' ,V y'! ; vV/ ■"-,-■•; Tremendous Responsibilities. i' •■- '■•■ . Tlie-Pfiinb MinislteT, "spoke as -follows:— "■„•' " "'Officer's,' ''■rion-ebmmissioned oftiecrs', and • ■'•■,. men•-When the Empire calls It is for the ;citizens.ofrth'e"'Domiiiibn. to respond, .and i'-V '•■' ''when - the .Empire, calls' it is for citizens ; i. ,■>. -to obey. When you leave the shores, pror :'.:'■-!■' bably.withina fow hours, you will carry !'.'' :' with you -tremendous' responsibilities; I !'.--:, Jim. sure-that.'y'ou all realise tho great : -'-' .'..''•■'ipTivilegb' that; has.'-been conferred upon ?.'>'- --, ■"-'■ you. You are going forth' to uphold tho f- honour' of Now Zealand, and to fight'for • ■ '■ >6ur King' and country .in the greatest [;-': :■:'■ crisis that the Empire has ever seen. That (".-"'•■'■ you will do your duty.and'dd it .well goes ! -- -without • saying. When the war is over ''■ ■■': '■■■ ■■-. and peace', reign's once again, you-will be >': ' better men for" the; experience -and. disi '■•"-•■■'. cipline,, and the. Empire will.be a greater - :.; and nobler Empire than ithas'.ever beer ':"-•:■' /.before. Our hearts go with you.. Wo arc !' '■ '-""■' mrond'-'of you. ;We who are staying be--1 '•'■ ''•; 'hind to do the business'of our own couni:'•'■"•.-''■:- try have the 1 satisfaction of knowing thai ;: : 'the first section ;,of ! the New \ Zealand ! : .v-Expeditionary' Forcs> which is soon' t< i' ; : leave pur. shores is the first force'to leav< • -the-slibres : ' of an overseas Dominion t< : ,'.;. go to tho assistancp of the Mother Conn '•■ : -''try -in her hour of need." (Applause.) 1 fV ' .'know that you will keep the flag flying • ii'ud-that'you 'will'-'keep your', faces to thi ;'• ''■''• toe. In the words of His Excellency, . 1: . ■ Siskiyou not, 'good-bye' ..but 'au reyoir., ;'. V" wi«h 'you good luck on behalf of the citi |U " -zona of God'be -with.-.yoi J;'-.- all till, we .meet again." '(Applause.) i :: Glorious Traditions of the Race. ;''-■'''' : -- . Sir Joseph Ward^spoke:as follows:- : :- :»'Thc call;to arms which has gone.fortl 1 ■■ to the-troops of the Empire is for th ?- purpose of defending the Empire's exist 1:' •■'■ ence in a -just' war, and it is because 0 *■'■-'■" this that we are proud to bo here to-da ''■■'. : ■to bid'you farewell. ■ You are going;fort] (■■ ■.•'■■ to do battle not only on behalf, of Ne\ '■■■•• Zealand,..but on behalf of the Empir !"■ ■•• as 'a wholo; 'I havelittle to.add !■ ■'."-'■ has been,so well said,by^His Excellenc ''■ : the Governor and-the'Prim© Ministei ■■'■■ The people of this country are satisfie that'they'can with overyconfidence plac ;■'■ the honour of the Dominion in th ic hands-of-the officers at 1- ,'■ about-to leave New Zealand. /Whereve- !' .'■' voi- "b, I a'm'snre that you - will worthil !' .'• uphold tho liigh.and glorious traditior ! ;-■' of-tho-British race-to are a '''proud''to belong. ~I hope-, that befoi ;■■■'■■"' long w 0 shall hear of the. snecess of th [■■" . British troops.wherevor they may be; < ; : ' victories.on sea and land that mil. nel to maintoin . the • British.- Empire. intai •'■•■ /" : rind so ensufe the. peace of the world f( j" ' another century to come., I too say to yo I'-'■■-•• "Au revoir, ;but not good-bye... God.spec [.■'• to you,- and;success and. luck. in .evei •(•.'•'.-■> ppssiblp .way."-./(Applause.)- ',; A'•;•!.'.'-..''■'•; fho Call. s 5 ..' - "r;Tho -Minister- of--Defence' (tho Hon. - !■: Alleii) said: "!Colonel'.Logan,:ofticers, ai 1.'.! jnenii-'- Ypu'- Ea'yo Tcsppndod to ■ tho Er

ire's'call- The country has called upon : ou before, and you \have responded. The jsponse has been ecjually good this time, ou will como back 1 all of you, I hope, ud add yet another .tradition to those hich New &aland has already dono for le gowl of the Empire. May yon have Dod luck. -I know that you. will be darig.' I know when yon have to strike, ou will strike hard, and I know when ou'have to be merciful you will bo meriful.- Mayjou come back-strong, and ell: God bo with you.. Our hearts will ewith you all the time/' •_._„■ The Mayor of' Wellington (Mr. J. P. ,uke)' said that the citizens of Wellmgm had every"confidence in the men that, hey would maintain the traditions of lie Empire. On behalf of the combined vunicipalities of New Zealand, he wishd them "Au revoir, God speed, good ick, and a "speedy return." .: , ; ; Cheers for the■ King. .■-._ : Turning to the spectators, His ExcelBncy then said that beiore he called for hreo cheers for His Majesty' the King, id three cheers for the Expeditionary Wee, he .wanted toappcal to them to do lothuig to hinder the, embarking of the aen. Xeave-takings were always unpleasnt but they .-did' not want to have any .ccidenis. They wanted everything to •o oH without a hitch. He implored hem not to force'their way on to the yharf, because when'a large crowd got n? i restricted space there was-always.dan-'er of an accident: It was for that reabn that he brought the troops there, so hat they could have an opportunity •of • aying good-bye.to them. : ' •■■'■.' - ■ . : His Excellency called for cheers for the Sing and there was an enthusiastic reiponse. -Cheers were then called, for the Expeditionary Force, and heartily given. From the'crowd came the cry Three sheers for the. Governor," and again the response was lusty. . .-• - Colonel Logan then turned to the troops ind oaUed for cheers for His Excellency, ind the.troops gave these in a hearty. manner. ■,•-.'•"■'. ■ J The National Anthem was sung before the Force marched off.. ...,:■■. The Last Scenes.; There was no wild cheering and jingo-, istio cries in the leave-taking'that followed. Within fifteen minutes every soldier had left the Basin. Hero and there the line was broken as a final handshake was given, but the notice..of ;departure had' been so; short that''many were without special friends to see them off. Once in tho street the Regimental Band struck up.a lively march, and four by four, the men swung' along without a' break till they reached the wharf. /' Here; the- ombarking was quickly carried out. ..No one but troops were allowed on.the wharf, and by 6 o'clock the last was aboard.- ' Visit-to the ; Troopships. ■.-;,. An. early' morning inspection of .the troopships -was yesterday i made by : tho' Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey). ;Punctually at 9.15 a.m. a small Ministerial party composed, of the Prime Ministei-, the Minister, of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen), the Postmaster-General (the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes), and the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. H, B. Bell),.was met at the ferry wharf by Major-General Sir Alexander Godley,, and proceeded' by tender to' the" troopships in the stream. -They-were shown over the ,&tst •vessel ~by Lieut-Colonel L. HarooutO ■ Turner. As troopships the. vessels present a. much different, appearance to that they had as passenger-carriers. The holds have-been built in, and-bunks for the.men-fill»every available inch. On 'theilarger of the troopships the accommodation is much better, and plenty of deck 6pace is available. Colonel Logan, who is in charge of the advance party, conveyed the visitors/over the ship. - MINISTER'S EULOGY. ■'Reference, wis made by the Prime Minister in'the''.flouse last evening to the very important event that had taken place" thai' ; day—the sending away,of the iirst'seclion- of' the Expeditionary. Force, Until 2.30 p:m. that day>> he stated, h« had-not the'very slightest- idea that the troops would be asked to sail' before the end. of-the .week. The order, came verj suddenlyj'ahd'it was responded to verj promptly. The' Government had consideredf.it'only right under_lhe circumstances \to give the public of Wellingtoi an opportunity of giving the men as gooc a send-off as was possible under the cir cumstances. v "To relieve any anxiety tha might be f felt by relatives and .friend: and the public generally' (for all wen interested-m our soldiers) he would sa; that'all possible .precautions for .th( safety of the men and ships had beei taken by the. New Zealand Govornmen anithe Imperial Government. Member of the public would understand, what hai been done when they heard a few week hence of. what, had taken place.-. In say ing this he-admitted. thal_ it was un possible'in war time to avoid risk. An; citisienNof New Zealand, Mr. Massey re marked-.finally, who-had '6een ' the mci on parade that day. must.havo felVa he felt, proud of tho men, proud of chei courage,, proud' of their physique, and above all, proud of their willingness t serve their country in a very diflicul crisis.-.' '.■•.-! ."■