THE RED JERSEY CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 200, 13 May 1918, Page 7

THE RED JERSEY CAMPAIGN

SUCCESSFUL DRIVE AT KILBIRNIE. Tho Kilbimio'fiun of tho Red Artillery (R«d Jersey Appeal) will be enabled to fire an extra inouey-sheU of over 1500 nag-powor, that being the unit of measurement established as a result of last Saturday's "drive" in the Kilbirnie and adjoining districts. Tho oxact sum of money which these figures represent is not yet known, but it is expected that it will be .£IOO or more. This waa tho first occasion on which this novel iorm of collection for war comforts had been tried in, Now Zealand. Those concerned express uatisfaction. at tho result, aud state that the "flag trail," ns the drivo is also called, is capable of considerable expansion. A pleasant feature of its operation on Saturday was tho ready responso made by all householders and shopkeepers. . From tho tunnel to the beach and in nil the streets traversed by the forces of raiders nearly every window displays tho "flag and gun" card which is a sign that a donation has been mnde to tho Red Jersey funds, and that othor raiding parties must exempt these houses and shops from their field operations. In numerous instances, householders wore out and shops were closed for Siturday afternoon. It is expeotod that theso citizens will call at one or other of the depots and securo exemption cards. - Tho depots are at Boyd'e store, Hataitai, Andrewartha's store, Kilbirnie, Temple's stare, Kilbirnie, and Bouttell'e. etore, Maranui. Supplies of the cards wero left at tho Maranui and Kilbirnie Schools on Friday, and returns from theso spurces must bo considered too before a final total can be made.

Each raiding party consisted of from 20 to 70 warriors. There were four raiding armies out on Saturday, the whole of the forces being under tho control of Messrs. Clark and Wallace, who were Field Marshal and Chief Staff Officer respectively. The Hataitai army was «ommandc<l by "General" Arcue. Thie force started from Boyd's etoro and worked up to tho Hatnjtai Heights. Tho North Kilbirnio ariny_ also started from this store. It was in three . divisions, tilie "gonerals'" names boine Lovatt, Jorgonsen, and Marshall. South Kilblrnie'S army started from Lyall Bay and was in two divisions under "Generals" Boyd and Meo, wliile the Maranui a.rmy, which etarted from the City Boundary, was under General Evans. The Kilbirnie Post Office was the objective of nil tho forces, and tho afternoon's proceedings wert cnliyencd by music from four bands, wnich accompanied sections of eaoh, army. Tkeso wero tho Patriotic Booiety'a Band, Municipal Bras 3 Band, Kalvat'.on Arnyr Bi/n), and a band.com-, posed oi members of the Wellington Pipe Bund. A captured Gtsrniaji gun, fully horsed, and oa which rodo several lady collectors, was a feature of tha afterKoon, the collectors doing excellont work. Several tin-can bands were notable, if discordant, notes in the raids. The rendezvous at tho Kiltirnio Post Offico was made slightly ahead, of timo. There the gathering was addressed by Adjutant Hosting, and Messrs. Ciark and Wallace, who taanked nil who had aspisted ia makinj; the "drive" a success. Tho names of Messrs. H. H. Boyd, F. W. Boyd, J. Lowis, J. Whitehead, W. tlodgers, of HaUitai, and Adjutant Hosking, who had provided motor-cars for the afternoon, nero specially mentioned. Mr. Wallace called for volunteers for raids to be held next Saturday at Oriental Bay and Day's Bay, and a good response resulted. These districts are not covered by the Kilbirnio guns, but Kilbirnie intends to demonstrate the attraetivoness and usefulness of this form of raid, which has achieved wonderful tesults in Australia