TROOPS ON PARADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2807, 27 June 1916, Page 6

TROOPS ON PARADE

vGREAT INFANTRY

14th DRAFT MARCHES THROUGH

The excellent draft of troops known as the 14th Reinforcements, marched through tho streets of. the city, yesterday afternoon. The parado was witnessed by thousands of people, and on the H-holo the men niado a very fine showing. The parade was to have taken place on Saturday, and consequently there were' among tho crowds many pcoplo who, having come long distances,, were somewhat annoyed at having to spend two extra dayis away from their homes.

The head of tho column passed Government Buildings punctually at tho appointed time—2.3o—and tho men imironed through Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street, and Lower Cuba Street. Three camp bands, including the bugle band, supplied the music. The Engineers and others, who led the way, were men who seemed to average a little above medium size, and wero capable and active-looking. The striking men of the draft were the infantry. They were' bigger and stronger by far than the others, they marched better, and they looked one of the most' perfect bodies of men who have been turned out of the New Zealand camps. Seeing these strapping fellows swinging along,. one remembered that within the last few weeks the cablegrams told us that Germany is running so close to the end of her tether that mere youths have been called up. What a contrast! Here, under the voluntary system, we saw parade yestewlay a band of infantry in which there was scarce a youthful form or face'to bo seen. No immature lad was- in that company. They were big,' brawny, mature men, and riot a draft in all the Anzacs will beat them for physique. Frequently nothing but the highest praise has been found fitting to describe the Sew Zealand Infantry on parade in Wellington; it is,doubtful if any infantry we. have seen in the city is quite as fine as yesterday's men. Without investigation it is, of course, impossible to tell whero men come from —the camps have a wonderfully levelling effect—but the .general impression was that most •of wero men from tho country distnets. ' The' Ith Maori Reinforcements took part in the'parade, and gave an excellent account of themselves. The Maoris are fine men physically, and they marched splendidly.