BROTHERS IN ARMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2908, 21 October 1916, Page 2

BROTHERS IN ARMS

SOLDIERS AND RECRUITS WARM HAND OF WELCOME During the past few days hundreds of enlisted men have been travelling by rail and steamer to Trentham, where they are being gathered together to form the Twenty-second Rein- ■ forccment.. As the trains rolled through the countryside, women and girls, many with sons or brothers or sweethearts at the war, have waved to the recruits; hore and there at wayside stations there has been some scattered cheering—New Zealand civilian crowds do not know how to cheer. But the most stirring experiences for the embrvo soldiers occurred when in the neighbourhood of the camps or when stray groups of' soldiers were sighted. Then tlio recruits were cheered to the, echo, and given all kinds of cheery, useless advice. "Let's give these blokes'a rally, a' young soldier on Feathorston platform said, as tne Wellington express, with three carriage-loads of men for Trentham, was about to steam away. His comradeß agreed, and they marched the length' of the platform to cheer the strangers. A pleasant exchange of badinage followed, and the last words that were shouted after the tram were: . "Don't forget the stew. Soldier-passengers on the train were intensely 'interested' in the recruits.' And the recruits, while a little shy at chumming up, appeared to realise that they were joining a great brotherhood, and responded to advances of comradeship. • ; ■ • • • '■■ ■ "Wait till you come through hero on a- troop-train,"' said a man in khaki, whoVore the red ribbon of Galnpoli, and a returned soldiers' badge. Hewas having sandwiches and tea ab Kaitoke, "You'll see a crowd then. The recruits' eyes were on thercd ribbon. Like all other recruits, lie himself wore a. white silk badge with crossed flags. "What is that " ho asked. "Gallipoli; I'm. returned," was thd laconic answer: "I'm after a badge like that," said the recruit. . "Good luck to you, hope you gob it," was the hearty reply. • . Every day there has been cheering in Trentham—the soldiers cheering the recruits,.and chaffing now men as they staggered past with their first issue or uniform and equipment. There is something in the meeting of thqsoldior and the recruit which a mere civilian cannot undorstand. ■ The soldier will run two hundred yards-' to -watch 'a'new draft pass, and they, will beam' and radiato delight as they cheer and I chaff the- incoming men. .. For their | part, the recruits .try" to look as unconcerned aspossiblo, like now boys at ,a school. - Thero is no doubt that a strong spirit of brotherhood, prevails among the men who have stepped forward to fight. The civilian who cheers ! a' recruit might feel self-conscious or afraid of the question: "Why don't you go, too?" _"■'"■ Tho soldier has already offered his services and his life. No one is more entitled than he to cheer the new recruits. He takes. full advantage of his right, and extends a warm hand of wclcornq.