THE EX-SAMOANS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2439, 19 April 1915, Page 6

THE EX-SAMOANS

: 1 WHY THEY ACCEPTED DISCHARGES. It is well known that only about 10 per cent, of the men who returned from Samoa were prepared to continue on in the service of the Government. This does not necessarily mean that the men who have done eight months' duty in a torrid climate are not prepared to' ' 'go' on with tho game." nor does it signify that they are following certain advice given them prior to leaving Apia for Wellington. Why. these welltrained trtwps have elected to take their discharge is mainly because by so doing they have been able to draw all the pay due to them,.-and, secondly, it gives them the opportunity of taking a longer spell than the leave that is being granted to those who ( have not signed off. By accepting their discharges, the men are not debarred from re-enlisting, and it is the commonly-expressed opinion that a very large proportion of these young men will be looking for places in the Reinforcements before the end of the month. A rumour hai been . going round to the effect that an attempt may be made to allow the ex-Samoans to form themselves into a separate Reinforcement, the argument being that such a force could be assembled and knocked into shape ready for sea within a fortnight. If nothing comes of the rumour, it appears as though those who wish to go to the front will not be' able to do so until the Eighth and Ninth Reinforcements go forward. The Samoan troops have been allowed to retain their uniforms, greatcoats, and hats, but have handed their rifles and other gear back to the authorities.' The greater proportion of the 3rd (Auckland) Regiment, who formed part of the Force, left for the north by Thursday night's express, and the southern men loft for Lyttelton the same ovening.-