The Dominion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1914. OUR EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2312, 20 November 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1914. OUR EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

The embargo placed on the publication of matter relating to our main Expeditionary Force which has left for overseas has now been in part Temoved. It is still necessary to observe secrccy on certain points, but it is permissible to inform the public that the troopships have made good progress on their voyage, overseas and that events have shaped themselves • as had been planned. At the time of the departure of the troops no mention*could be made of the stirring scenes,which marked the' occasion; .nor of the splendid enthusiasm of the men who were going abroad to fight the battles of the Empire. Since that _day_ we have received many communications from members of the Force, all of which • are couched in most cheerful terms and plainly indicate that the arrangements made for the accommodation of men ®nd horses during tho long voyage had been carefully and adequately for. Very few people properly realise how big this undertaking really was. Never before in the history of tho world has so large an armed force of men and. horses been transported so great a distance. /The latest advioes to hand (we. are not permitted to mention the dato or the locality) go toshow that- the troops were in excellent spirits, and that.the routine* of work aboard tho ' ships kept them fully occupied and keenly interested. The politicians who have been seeking to make party capital against tho Government out of the price charged for petty comforts at tho canteens, ignoring the admirable manner in which Ministers have attended to'all the really important issues involved in the great task of equipping and dispatching the Expeditionary Forces, are put to shame by the success with which the undertaking was carried through as well a.s by the attitude of the troops themselves. The Australian Force is accompanying the New Zealand Expedition, and both are under strong escort of warships.. It may happen that recent events may. lead to • a change in their -destination being decided on, but wherever they may be called on to operate they can be relied on to do their duty. Drill has been continued as far as possible throughout the voyage, and lectures have been given and tactics explained so that both officers and men should land better equipped than when they left these shores, for the task that lies ahead of them.