LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3050, 11 April 1917, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

"ANZACS" WHY ARE NEW ZEALANDERS ' ' NOW EXCLUDED? Sir, —I am sure there is not either in New Zealand or at the front a single Now Zealand soldier who 'is not justly proud' of the right whioli our soldiers have to the title "Anzac." Nor is there any parent or relative of a soldier, nor, indeed, any patriotic New Zealander who does not' snare that jiwt pride. It is, for that reason, to be regretted that our men at the front have to a large extent lost their, identity as Anzacs. This appears to be due to tho fact that the New Zealand Division, under Genoral Russell, is (through some arrangement made by the British War Office) no longer part of the Ist Army Corps under General Birdwood. This arrangement has stood for about a year and I believe has given great dissatisfaction to all ranks at the front. It is surely time New Zealand raised its ,voice in protest. Our men at the front are powerless to do so. One sees in English • newspapers General Birdwood's command alone spoken of as "Anzacs." If the present state of things be permitted to continue,- New Zealanders will, in the eyes of the Empire, gradually cease to be identified with the great and honourable tradition which should not only be handed down to our children, but acknowledged throughout the Empire. The traditions of a regiment are its life and spirit, and every New Zealand regiment which took its part at Gallipoli is entitled to claim . "Anzac" as the foundation of its traditions. I hope that the -soldiers and citizens of Wellington will, on Monday night, make it quite plain that they want our division at the front under General Russell (a New Zealander of whom we may be proud) to be restored to "the Ist Army Corps of Anzacs, commanded by General Birdwood. It will then rest with the Government to make the proper representations to the British War Office to have effect given to what I feel sure is the wish, not only of our soldiers, but the people of this Dominion.—l am, etc., C. B. MORISON.