FIJI CONTINGENT.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2367, 25 January 1915, Page 8

FIJI CONTINGENT.

DEPARTURE FROM SUVA. New Year's Day was marked at Suva by scenes of rare enthusiasm, when Fiji sent its contingent of 57 men to the front. To outsiders, not aware of the' circumstances, this may not seem many, but, adds the Sydney "Telegraph's" correspondent, a number of the boys from here have already joined Australian and New Zealand contingents. .Even'now there are some in the Liverpool camp. Apart from this, if the Commonwealth " were sending as many men in proportion Bhe would send twice 225,000 men. This' is only written to prevent misconception. It is so easy .to say, "Why did they not send more?" Fiji'.s quota was under the charge of Captain Swinbourne, a young Australian officer. Tbey_ left by the R.M.S. Makura at midnight, and the wharf, even at that hour, was crowded by wellwishers and friends. They sang "It's a Long "Way to Tipperary," ana thero was a Fijian song of farewell heard at .times. They have their own war cry, and it is as it should be, in . Fijian, Here is a translation:—

Hasten the fighting tho night is approaching. A, A, A! i, i, il TJiya! i, i, 11 : The crane flies quickly. 00, O, 0! i, i, i! TJiya! i. i, il • Catch tho spy of a foreign land. Let Germany be smashed so that we may rest.1 TJliyal i, i, il " • Prior to their departure the men were entertained at luncheon by tho Hon. H. Marks. Speaking ,at the-luncheon His Excellency the Governor, Sir Bickham Escott, acknowledged the debt of- gratitude felt towards tho Australian Fleet. "I wish to express the deep sense of gratitude," he said, "that we owe to His Majesty's Australian Navy, which has kept us in -safety these last five months." There was much cheering. It was repeated when the ships of the French . and' Japanese were; mentioned. "We have been proud to see them in these waters, and to them. we have a similar feeling -of gratitude:" The men were the recipients of many gifts. From His Excelloncy tho Governor eacli received a pipe. Some received wristlet watches from the residents of tho particular district they came from. In Suva over £70 was collected in a couple of hours, and more pipes wore bought, the balance, being handed to Captain Swinbourne- to invest in comforts on the voyage. Before they left the men were presented with a flag bearing the coat of arms of the colony. It was 1 givon ir.to the keeping of Private Harness, the youngest Fijian-born -membor of the contingent. The men' were of a fine stnmp, averaging oft. 9in. in height arid 39in. chest measurement. They will be drafted direct into a British regiment, and will proceed straight to England. It was suggested that they should join an Australian contingent, but there was no room for them. New Zealand wanted the men, but there is no contingent leaving thoro for some weeks, .and the men are anxious to got into the fighting line. They liavo gone tho shortest way.