MEN MUST BE FOUND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2748, 17 April 1916, Page 6

MEN MUST BE FOUND

ADDRESS BY DEFENCE

MINISTER

AT SEND OFF TO SOLDIERS

A. number of Otago High School old • boys, who have enlisted in tho ainmu- ; nition column of the Expeditionary ; Force were farewclled on Saturday ' evening. There were nine cx-membore • of tho D Battery present at tho gathering, and apologies were received for the ■ absence of two others. The evening ■ was given by other members of the Otago Boys' High School old boys and their friends, and tho ' guests were.: Sergt. Cottrell, Corpl. AVoon, Corpl. Cole, Gunners Thompson, Even6on, Ferguson, Hugh, Corpl. Freyberg,' and Sergt. Black. In proposing the toast of "Our Soldier Guests," Capt. Goldie said a few words about each of tho men present. Ho told the company of personal incidents connected with tho soldiers from tho time they became members of the D Battery till they enlisted. Ho said that he would like to see the day come when tho National Reserve would become the reserve of the D Battery and ammunition column. In conclusion, he expressed the hope that members of the National Reserve would turn out to give the boys a parting cheer whenever a reinforcement draft marched through the streets. Sergt. Cottrell, in reply, _ said that (he and his mates were going out to fight for their King and country,' hecause they realised that it was their duty to do so. Major A. R. Hislop briefly traced'the history of the volunteer movement for the last 40 years. Ho referred to what had been done by Now Zealand in tho South African campaign, and how history -was repeating itself in a greater way to-day. The Defence Minister had done marvellous work. (Applause.) The men who had come forward and the men who are going away had justified Mr. Allen's work throughout the last 20 months. In conclusion,' Mr. Hislop said: "All praise is. due'to the Minister-of Defence for the work he has done in sending the men away.'-' (Applause.) Defence Minister Speaks. "The Defence Department will see this Svar through," said Mr. Allen in reply. It would take him hours, he added, to say all he coidd say about our Expoditiouary Forces. Our men at the front were composed entirely of New Zealanders, and a New Zealand officer, Sir A. H. Russell, was in charge of them. ' Our own Maori brothers were serving alongside their pakeha brethren and this one little incident helped to show how united the British Empire was as far as this war was concerned. Praise was given to all men who comprised the .various services sent from Xew Zealand. The ammunition column" had practically been drawn from tho National Reserve, and that body deserved credit for the work it had al- " ready done. -' "The heroism of our men at Anzac," said Mr/Allen, "would never be.forgotten. ' The Australians and .New' Zoa.lahders landing, on. Gallipdli had done | more thanaiiytliingelse could have done to cement the comradeship of the two countries. Not enough was known of our volunteer artillery; but the officers who took the matter in hand had done well, and our own artillery officer, Brigadier-General G. N! Johnston, was in charge of our own men. He had good reason to feel proud of his . command too. We did not know everything now, but the story that would bo written by and by would niake our hearts beat quicker. Owing to the artillery reinforcements that had been sent forward, the commanding officer had been able to increase the force beyond all recogni- ; tion. ■We could not find the guns, but the .Mother Country could, and we had found, and will find, the men. Our New.Zealand artillery was 250 per cent, better to-day than when they landed. The ammunition column did not come much into, the limelight, but they had to do the hard work with a fine spirit. They, took., 'great, risks, aiid they knew it. Many and, many a time the men in this branch of the service entered the lire-swept zone to carry ammunition to their mates at the guns, and did it cheerfully. ■"'''".

"We in New Zealand are not a military people," continued Mr. Allen, "but when the time came we joined hands with the Motherland and were 'doing our bit. 1 ' To-day 50,000 of .our, men are in training or at tho front, and I hope that we will find more to follow them. If not, we will have to find other means of getting men. Our men know and feel the esprit do corps and love of home and Now Zealand. That's what we are fighting for. Those who are going, if they hang on to this great inspiration, will win through. They are going to victory ; and to save tho noble women and children of this country.'- We will wolcom© them back, and they .will bo treated as men and' welcomed as men. The returned soldier will man and a gentleman." (Prolonged applause) -

During the evening the following toasts were honoured: "N.Z. Military Forces," proposed by the chairman (Major A. R. Hislop, V.D.), and responded to by the Hon. J. Allen; "Our Navy and Army," proposed by Mr. J. P. Luke, Mayor of AVellington, and replied to by Colonel T. W. Porter, C.8.; "Our Soldier Guests," proposed by Captain G. N. Goldie, replied to by Sergt. Cottrell; "Tho Ladies,'" proposed by Lieut. G. C. Fache, replied to by Lieut. Duggan: "The. Press," proposed by Mr. J. 0 Shea, City. Solicitor. A capital musical programme was supplied by the following: Messrs. C. W. Moore, F. S. .Pope, S. Anderson, E. 3. Hill, J. A. M'Gregor, Alex. Ferguson, J. O'Shea, A. Besenie, and K. H. Smyth..

Presentations were made to each of the soldier guests, and also to those who could not be present on account of military duties. ■ Mr. J. P. Luke, in making the presentations, spoke a few very appropriate words to each recipient