APPEAL TO THE BRAVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2446, 27 April 1915, Page 6

APPEAL TO THE BRAVE

FOR THE HONOUR OF THE RACE']

STATEMENT BY PRIME

MINISTER

An appeal to the young manhood of New Zealand to bear their part in the nation's struggle, and an appeal which is at the same time a confident expression of opinion that the response wall be good waß made by tie Prime Minister in an interview with a. Dominion reporter yesterday. "The Imperial Government," said Mr. Massey, "has given the people of New Zealand the privilege -of sending to/ the front a special force of infantry and a battery of artillery, in addition to the ordinary reinforcements which were arranged for some months ago, and! which will be sent periodically until the end of the war, or until we are notified that it is not necessary to send any more. That the number of men required will be forthcoming I have not the faintest doubt. New Zealanders are patriotic and . Imperialistic. The Empire, calls, and they will respond in a manner worthy of their own country and worthy of the very highest traditions of the race to which thoy belong. There are now in camp at Trentham and training some thousands of as fine young fellows as any part of the Empire can produce—more are required for the noblest diit.y that could possibly be performed by any British citizens, the' duty of assisting to defend the honour of the race, and win victory for the Empire in the most serious crisis which it has ever experienced. I believe that in proportion to its population New Zealand leads the other Dominions in the assistance it has given to the Imperial authorities since the declaration of war.. 'My ambition is to see it keep the lead, so that in years to come when this present generation has passed away, what we are doing now will be remembered with pride and gratitude by those' who will follow us. It is a 1 grand and great opportunity, and I am confident, that the young manhood of. this country will rise to the occasion and give of its best and bravest for the cause that is worthy of all the sacrifices the peoples of 'our Empire, can be called upon to make.'".