THE KING'S MESSAGE TO THE TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2233, 20 August 1914, Page 5

THE KING'S MESSAGE TO THE TROOPS

■"';".' "DUTY MUST BE YOUR WATCHWORD" THE TRUE CHARACTER QF A BRITISH SOLDIER , , . ;' ' (Rec.. August 19, 6.15 p.m.) London, August 18. .' >"~The King telegraphed the following message to the troops, which was rend to each regiment before'embarkation:— ,< ' . ■ .'./.'.' "Your first duty is to secure the safety and, uphold the honour of the Empire. I have implioit confidence and know you will do your duty nohly. 1 to bless and guardyou and bring you back . victorious. ' ',■■','"' : V' •, : .-; "Belgium, which,we are pledged to'.defend, has been attacked, and. France is about to be invaded by the same powerful foe. Duty must be vour.watchword. I will follow your every movement with the deep- ! Vest'interest, and mark -with eager Satisfaction your daily progress and ■ "'"■ your'welfare will never be'absent from, my, thoughts." '.■'■' "'':,■ ',-.'■' "LORD KITCHENER'S 'ADVICE. ■■■'■'.■;.'; , . V Eachi man also carried a little slip of paper, signed "Kitchener,' 1 with two hundred words of soldierly advice, telling them to— "Fear God and honour the King. Remember that youare fighting; -' .on the soil of a friendly nation. . Abstain ,from : liquor and looting. • Be. -courteous to women, but not more .than ".courteous." :.'■■■ The message, which has been-ordered to be kept in every soldier's pay--book, proceeds to warn the memin outspoken language of the importance of ; '■ preserving sound'health, which is. necessary .if their duty is to be performed, ' and conorudes:—- '; ,-' ;"''■'■;• ■'.''.''-/.V' "You cannot do your country better service than by showing yourself in France and Belgium in the true oharacter of a British soldier. .', Be sure:your;conduot justifies the welcome and. the trust awaiting ■~.■:' :you.!'. ■■/"■■ ..". .■ ■ -•'..' .; ■ ■