ON SALISBURY PLAIN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2349, 4 January 1915, Page 6

ON SALISBURY PLAIN

THE NEW ZEALANDERS ADMIRED.

An appreciative reference to the New Zealand contingent,, now believed ■to have joined our men in Egypt, wa6 made by the "Daily Mail'..' special representative when the men' were in camp on Salisbury Plain:— ■ . . ' • Some few weeks ago the vast rolling uplands of Salisbury Plain knew scarcely tho tread of the soldier; to-day neat villages of hundreds of iron-built liuts are everywhere dotting the landscape This • afternoon I have visited the 6mall town that has just sprung up at Sling Plantation, near Bufford, where Canadians and New Zealanders live together in friendliest rivalry. It is an excellent spirit which animates these men of our far-flung dominions. On Saturday they strove together at Rugby football, the New Zealandors winning by three points to nil. To-day I saw them'compete as soldiers on the drill grounds boforo the New Zealand lines. There a challongo cup was offered to the victors, and none could doubt tho keenness of the two platoons in the contest. The New Zealanders first . went through the evolutions of platoon and extended order drill. Their work was finished to a fine degree of precision, and their erect, soldierly bearing compelled admiration. The Canadians as they took the field knew that they had a, tough proposition. And their hesitation, slight though it was, becamo shortly obvious. Only one decision was possible, and Captain Cookson, the judge, handed the little silver loving cup without hesitation to Lieutenant Stacker, commanding the Now Zealand platoon. Its method of reception was interesting. At command the men grounded riiles, stepped three paces forward, and gave vent with stentorian force to tho famous haka cry, the' slogan of defiant Maoris. The cup is to be contested for 1 .weekly by tho .two contingents.