12TH REINFORCEMENTS PARADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2760, 2 May 1916, Page 7

12TH REINFORCEMENTS PARADE

AN EXCELLENT DRAFT

enthusiastically received

Owing to .circumstances which, could not very well be prevented, the Twelfth Keinforcements did not parade on Saturday afternoon, "so for the first time sinco tho outbreak of tho war a reinforcement parade was held on a week day—yesterday . afternoon. Tho force which paraded consisted of 1022 troops, being tho first draft of the "Twelfths"—tho reinforcement which has. put up a fino record in their camp trailiing, one. in every way equal to the best yet.. Tho "Twelfths",, are not big men. It is noticcable that tlie ! proportion of big men has'been slightly less with each reinforcement, whilst. thero are those who, being slightly under the standard height, have been able .to stretch out a little at the psychological moment, and so got through, and from the standpoint of effectiveness • _in the (tyle of war, the present campaign has ievelopec] the medium-sized mau Is considered to. be "the man for the ; Trench 'lighting has found the fcig- man to be an obstacle to be endured, whereas medium • and small men are particularly at homo in tho trenches, and even in open charges. With "tho buzz of the machine-gun bullets hurtling through ,-tho air, tho big man offers niQre surface to the bullets than-his smaller comrade. Whilst the "Twelfths" are not big, they are about the sturdiest and most nuggety' draft that have swung along the Wellington wood-blocks. 'Their"faces are deep-tanned with the siin of the hottest summer oh record in Now Zealand, and the clear eyes and'jaunty stride spoke .volumes for';their condition.

The column ' left Waterloo Quay promptly at 3 . p.m., and passed the saluting base a few minutes later. There were assembled at • tlie base, with 13rigadier-General A. W. Robin, Commandant of the Forces, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massoy), Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Francis Bell, the Hons. J. Allen, A. L. Herdman, W. H. Herries, .6. W. Russell, J. A. Hanan, 'A. Myere, ,Dr. Pomaro, -General Henderson, Lieut.-Col. ,■ Gibbon, "Lieut.-Col. Vf. E.'Collins, Lieut.-Col. Pilkington, ' Gapt. P. Skelley, Capt. Robinson, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke),, and other prominent people. 'There was. a very 'large crowd of people assembled on either side of Lainbton Quay,' opposite Government Buildings. ■ The Senior 1 Cadets (who turned out voluntarily) formed a cordon which, with the aid of the "Red Caps" ind police, hold the crowd in check just is effectively as maturer troops. As the tolunin swung round the Printing Office sorner, headed by the Trentham Camp Band and the '"ftvelfths' Own," volleys of- hearty cheery rent the cool, still air, an infectious habit which broke out sporadically right, along the line of march —up Hie Quay,' Willis Street, llong "Manners Street,, and down Lower Cuba Street and Jervois Quay to the waterfront. Though it was,not a holilay, the streets were crowded with people, and the employees of the shops 2nd factories swarmed to the windows, fire-escapes, and verandah-roofs, to get a view of the passing column, and wave , a fluttering . farewell; .to; the boys who pave elected to do their part in the >feat-struggle for freedom and justice. As well as the bands of- tho Trentham Camp and Twelfth Reinforcement, the aarade was. brightened by the playing of the Fifth Regiment and tho Featherston Camp Bands.