THE EMPIRE'S CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2621, 17 November 1915, Page 6

THE EMPIRE'S CRISIS

AND NEED FOR MEN SOLDIERS MAKE ELOQUENT APPEAL Eloquent appeals were made in two speeches at the New Zealand Club luncheon yesterday for every man to do his duty in this present national crisis. Tile luncheon was tendered to Captain Donald Simson, a New Zealaud officer who has for years occupied « prominent position in Johannesburg, but who is now in Now Zealand recovering from the effects of fighting in Gallipoli; and Captain Cross, of Wellington College, who spent fourteen weeks in the trenches at the same front. Captain Simson delivered a striking speech at Kiccarton racecourse oil Saturday last, and he made some reference to this yesterday. Mr. It. H. Webb presided, uud there was a largo attendance. Aftor the National Anthem had been sung, Mr. Webb called on the guests to address the gathering,

Captain Cross said that he desired to impress on everyone how badly they needed men at tho Dardanelles. There was plenty of equipment there, but they wanted men. For the first four months there the men put in solid hard work, and there was none of the romance of ivar. Men came out of tho trenches after 48 hours' work, to go on digging, digging, digging. The men were absolutely done, bccause they had not enough men to give relief. "With, the normal number of men, oiglit hours on and eight off should be given, but many of the men had '18 hours in the trenches without a wink of sleep. They came out like drunken men, with their eyes bloodshot and popping out of their heads. Tho further tho ranks got down below strength the harder was it on the rest. If the people of Wellington could only realise how badly reinforcements were needed there would be plenty of volunteers —volunteors they wanted, and not pressed men. (Applause). There was plenty of growling at the front, for that was a soldier's privilege, but-there was no whining. Acts of devotion were going on day after day in tho trenclion —a man thought nothing of risking his life for his chum, or giving up his comforts to a sick comrade. Of course it was not all grimness. "When they were Siving on the brink of eternity any old tiling raised a laugh. (Applause.) Sporting Peonle and the Crisis. Captain Simson, in addressing the members, said that he fully appreciated the honour bestowed on lam. He was not going to give any war talk—Captain Cross, had given sDino, and if they wero the only remarks put in front of a New Zealaud audience they fully justitifcd his (tho speaker's) "extraordinary ►ction" at a recent date. (Loud applause.) The speaker went on to deal with. Empire matters. Jio l.ad not, be Bald, been told what to talk about—'he had beon accused of abusing hospitality, and ho did not want to abuse the hospitality of the Now Zealand Olub. When tie could be shown where ho had dono wrong lie would apologise, but whore it was not shown' that lie was wrong he felt he was doing an Empiro duty. Referring to his action im Saturday, he said ho made' tho ap- , peal because ho felt that tho people in New Zealand, especially the sporting people, had not fully recognised the national crisis through which wo were passing. He was still of tho opinion that tho majority of what was said would do good. Ho wanted it thoroughly understood that in appearing in puulio as an officer he was not criticising tho Defenco Department, nor tlio Government. Thero was no more loyal supporter, and nobody who approved more, of the method of training and encampments as carried out under existing circumstances than he did. (Ap>j>lauso.) A Failure in Duty. This was an extraordinary war, a Ivar without parallel. The army of the past, the "Tommy Atkins" Arniy of professional soldiers, had gone. To-day only the remnants of that army wero in existence. That army had gone in to hght our battle, and most of the mon liad either been killed or wounded. What had taken the place of that army? he asked. The civilian of eighth ecu month's ago, and tho civilian of yesterday. Ho was tho man who, throughout tho Empire, was backing up that remnant of tho professional army. When they returned thoso men again would bo civilians. Men wero returning from the firing line, members of Parliament wore, coming back for fuiv loughs, and wero v going on tho public platform to discuss tho war. That was not tho duty of soldiors, but it was necessary because the men of tho Empiro had failed in their duty. It was because recruiting all over was slackening off that tho returned soldier iiad to make his appeal for recruits.

Captain Simson went on to deal witli soino of tlio possible problems which would arise out of tlio war. Ho asked What was going to bo the result of tlio tens of thousands of soldiers who had fought returning to civil life ? There were many problems connected with the War, and he made the remarks; in order to let older lieads than his think it over. What was to be the effect of the war on the returned soldiers? Their temperaments and political ideas would be changed by the lives they liad been loading. He put himself forward as an example of the effect tho war had on some people. He considered ho was justified in taking tho action ho hatl, : because he felt the timo had arrived for him to do so. Employing Coloured Troops. Tliore were other problems that he would liko to discuss, such as the colour problem and the employment of coloured troops on our behalf. In New Zealand the subject was so far away that not much thought was given to it, but in Africa it was more realisod. They had to consider, if they used coloured troops, South African or Japanese, to fight for the freedom of the British Empire, how were_ they going to deny them full citizenship afterwards? Then there was the question of what monetary recompense should bo given to the soldiers. Tho pension scheme was one they had discussed, and one tho Government liad told them could be altered as the need arose. It was for the commercial community to decide and to toll tho Government what thoy were prepared to authoriso them to pay. "You have," said Captain Simson, "to say to what extent you aro prepared to give your world's goods to back up the men "who have done the job for you." The question 'arose as to whether the soldier was not entitled to a share of what ho had protected. In conclusion, Captain Simson said that he had started to do what ha considered his duty, and ho was going to continue to discuss these problems, with a view to creating an interest in tho war in New Zealand, mid to assist recruiting, provide*], of course, that the authorities did not find more useful work for him' to do. Ho decided to do this as his conscience dictated, and as a duty to his God and King. (Loud applause.) A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers.