FAREWELL TO THE TROOPS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2264, 25 September 1914, Page 6

FAREWELL TO THE TROOPS.

INSPECTION AT NEWTOWN PARK. MEMORABLE AND IMPRESSIVE SCENE THOUSANDS PRESENT. SPEECHES BY HIS EXCELLENCY AND MINISTERS.

Epochal events in the military history of New Zealand have been few and far between. Glancing back over the short life of this fair Dominion of ours —this, green. Britain of the South—one may instance the coming of the British troops in the 'fifties to check the Maori risings; 'then, long years afterwards, when the colony had reached the lusty youth of nationhood, tho cheerful response given to the Old Country during the South African war of 1899-1901, and quite recently the departure of the advance detachment of the Expeditionary. Force for Samoa and its successful achievement, as milestones of history. But the outstanding event of yesterday, when the flower of our young manhood stood to attention on parade at Newtown Park, beneath the blazing colours they are'pledged to fight— aye, and die— for, was fraught' with graver, grimmer significance. When towards the end of 1899 Wellington farewelled the First Contingent for South Africa/ the Empire was never in any danger. It was a mark of our loyalty and capacity to help the Empire when the need arose. Now, when real need has arisen, and England is at war with, the most arrogant and ruthless military Power of Europe, the blast of war echoing over the seas has aroused the long latent forces of Britain, and for the first time in the history of the world, from the south and east and west, there is a great and glorious rally of the stalwart sons of the grand old Mother of Empire. It is not a hundred years since the overseas colonies wore considered.to be more or less of a burden to the worried heads of Downing Street, who had to find' ships to police all the great waterways of the world, and troops to keep the peace ashore, but time, • the 'great.arbiter, has brought recompense: Our argosies go forth to keep the Home larder filled, and at the first blast of the warihugle our men go forth to fight. ■ The Heart ot the Empire. It was all so well said by William Watson when he wrote his "Last Word to the Colonies":-:- ~..'', "Brothers beyond tho Atlantio'a loud expanso; ~ „ And you that rear the Innumerable fleece Ite southward 'mid the ocean namod of peace; . , Britons that past tho Indian wave advance , ',■'■ , , Our name, and spirit and world-predomin-ance; ~, And you our kin. that reap the earths increass , • Where crawls that lone-backed mountain till it cease . . , '■•.., •_'. ' Orown'd with the headland of bright «s----perahco:—,' Ecmote compatriots wheresoe,or ye dwell,. By your prompt, voices ringing clear and , . truo . ' Wo 'know that with our England all »s Young is 6ho yet, her world-task but begun! By you we know her safe, and know by r• ' y° u ■■' • , .'• i , Her veins are million, but her heart 13 one." ' ■ • '

■ SCENE AT THE PARK ' A MEMORABLE GATHERING. The farewell' ceremonial was announced: to take place at Newtown l'ark,. commencing at 2.30 p.m. No stranger to Wellington, who wished to bo witness to tho memorable scene, could have mistaken his way, as from midday the south-bound trams began to pack up, aud streams of people not able to gain even standing space on the cars footed it to Wellington South rather than miss the event. Tho parkward movement became more pronounced as squads of troopers, in charge of, their, eo'mpan'y commanders, tramped_ .the wood-blocks in easy order. This induced a'Stampede for the cars, which were soon found to be quite incapable of : accbmmodaating all who wished to ride. Even those who waited at AVillis Street and Manners Stre'et stoppingplaces after 1.15 p.m. found that they had little chance of gaining accommodation, and .many of the thoughtful boarded cars bound for Thorndon' Esplanade and Lambton Station, in order to secure a through passage on-tho return trip to the parte. This' manoeuvre reduced to a minimum the chances of getting a 6eat-for those waiting at mid-City steps,' hut was good for receipts, as tho cars wore crowded both ways up tfll after 2 p.m. ..'/'■'' The verdant basin of Newtown Park/ presented a unique and thrilling scene that will live long in the memory o? eveiyono who was privileged.to be present. On the sloping banks above the main horseshoe drive, the public was assembled so thickly that the place resembled a huge amphitheatre of_ animated humanity, the .black and white of the average man's attire being Telieved bv flashes of those, gay Magyar colours so fashionable now . with the women-folk. At the southern flagstaff the Union Jack floated lazily above the civic ensign, on the Zoo hill dozens of children could be seen enjoying, the shining hours in blissful ignorance- of the .purple'page in local history that was being turned in the sward below, and high up oh the western side some hundreds of boys, intent on having an elevated view of the proceedings, climbed into the trees and peered through the fluttering leaves at the remarkable scene below.

The Governor's Inspection. When His 'Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool arrived soon after 2.30 p,m.,.they were greeted with oheers from the densely-packed banks of people. The Expeditionary Force formed up in hollow square for inspection by His: Excellency. _ In the centre stood Major-Gcneral Sir Alexander Godley, K.C.M.G., C.8., P.S.C., 1.G.5./who commands the forces, accompanied by his staff. There wero present: General' Staff Officer LieutenantColonel. W. G. Braithwaite, D.5.0., P.S.C.. 1.G.5.; Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor, T.D., P.S.C., N.Z.S.C.; Assistant Quartermaster General Lieutenani>Colonol J. J. Esson, sfh (Wellington) Regiment; Assistant Military Secretary Major J. G. Hughes, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., aide-de-camp to Major General Sir Alexander Godley, Lieutenant A. T. Rhodes, Grenadier Guards (Special Reserve). There wore 2600 members of the Expeditionary Force on parade, out of tho total Wellington contingent of 142 officers and 2603 men. .The various arms represented, with the principal officers, were: — Mounted Brigade Field AmbulancesCommander: Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Thomas, V.D. , Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment. —Headquarters: Lieutenant-Colonel W. Mcldrum, 6th (Manawatu) Mounted Rifles; Major J. H. Whyto, N.Z.S.C.; Adjutant, Captain V. A. Kelsall, N.Z.S.C. • Squadrons.—Qiicen Alexandra's 2nd (Wellington West Coast) Squadron, Major J. M. El nisi io in command; fltli (Wellington East Coast) Squadron, Major S. Chalmers. Ifow Zoalnnd Artillery Biigado. (tommander; Lieuten.

ant-Colonel G. N. Johnston, R. A.; Adjutant, Lieutenant J. M. Richmond, R.N.Z.A. Batteries: No. 1 Battery, Major F. Symon, R.N.Z.A.; No. 2 Battery, Major IP. B. Sykes, R.A.; No. 3 Battery, Major I. T. Standish, R.N.Z.A. Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column.—Captain: Captain F. G. Hume, R.N.Z.A. N.Z. -Infantry Brigade—Headquarters—Commander: Colonel F. E. Johnston, Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment). Brigade-Major: Major A. C. Tomperley, Norfolk Regiment. ■ Wellington Infantry Battalion.— Headquarters—Commander: Lieut.-Col-onel W. G. Malone, 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles). Major: Major H. Hart, 17th (Ruahine) 'Regiment. ' Adjutant: Captain M. M'Donnell, N.Z.S.C. Companies.—7th (Wellington- West Coast) Company: Major W. H. Cunningham. 9th (Hawke'B Bay), Company: Major R. Young. 11th (Taranaki Rifles) Company: Major J. W. Brunt. 17th (Ruahine) Company: Major E. H. Saunders. As His Excellency the Governor, in the neat, quiet uniform of his own regiment (Rifle Brigade) descended the steps and walked out on to the sward, the troops came to the salute, the massed bands crashed out the National Anthem, and the Union Jack was mast-' headed; Without any further _ ado, Lord Liverpool began his inspection of the troops,- accompanied by General Sir Alexander Godloy, ' Colonel Chaytor, Major Hughes, Colonel R. J. Collins, and Surgeon-Col-onel Purdy (Chief' Medical Officer), and his personal staff. Other officers present were: Colonel A. W. Robin (Acting Commandant of the Forces), Lieut.-Col-onol. Gibbons, Colonel Tate, Majors Pilkington and' Boswo'rth, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Hon. Major . O'Sullivan, and. Captain Hutton. Grouped near the steps were the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey), and the members of the Ministry, Sir.. Joseph Ward, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), a large number of members of Parliament, the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott), Ma-jor-Chaplain the Rev. W. Shirer, and Captain Chaplain the Rev. J. G. Chapman.