NEW ZEALAND'S PART IN THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 83, 2 January 1919, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S PART IN THE WAR

A PROUD-'RECORD. I - The part whicK New Zealand, the most idistaiit .portion, of the Empire, lias piayed -in tiie present war, is 'one of wnicn mat small community'may'be justly ■ prowl (states a recent article in tue London '.'limes"). . New Zealand has sent to the fighting front 95),(i50 troops of all ranks; another 10,0»0 are in camp in New Zealand. With the military organisations necessary ,within her' own shores, and the garrison which 'she maintains at Samoa, together with the men engaged upon woyk of . military- importance at . homo, this, 'army ranks in' very high proportion to her population of only .1,150,000— nearly one : tenth.' All the troopships engaged in transporting thssi force have been drawn from the New Zealand mercantile marine. ; . The Dominion bears the whole, expense of her army, its equipment and maintenance in and out of the field. It does not cost the Motherland a penny. Up to the end of August the expenditure had amounted to over .£44,000,01)0. Of this sum ,540,000,000 lias been raised in .local loans and by .War Bonds in the Dominion, which, in round figures, is a direct investment in war indebtedness of d&10 per head of the population. Up to the latter period of 1916 volunteer application supplied all the troops required, but iii WIS a system of compulsion .was instituted. There has never been any demonstration against'tho compulsory principle bj\ any section of the community The South Sea Islanders ' have enthusiastically contributed their 'quotas. Without being called upon, the Niue have enthusiastically sent away with the New Zealand Forces 118 men, Rarotonga 308, the Gilbert Islands ,25, and Fiji a platoon. The New Zealand Maoris maintain a full battalion at the front out of their jwpulation of 49,000. , Shortage ol' shipping has prevented New Zealand 1 supplying foodstuffs to her fullest. capacity. but 'she Ims giyen Great Britain -the complete control of her output'of meat,'wool, butter, cheese, and tungsten metals. From . March 3, 1915, to June 30, 1918, she supplied meat to the value of ,£24,306,000;' clieese (November 4, 1915, to June 30, 1918), valued at ,£9,000,000; butter (November ?0, 1!>1G, to June 30, 1918), £2,800,000; and wool (Decomber 1, 1916, to June 30, 1918), .£29,000,000. , ....." . New.. Zealand has. contributed to the British Red Cross J3255.000. and to other Red Cross purposes .£115,900. For other charitable purposes in connection with the war the total raised in voluntary'subBcriptions is over JEs,ooo,ooo—more than ,£5 per head of the population. She supplies and maintains her.own Y.M.C.A., ■ Salvation Army, Church Army, and other, kindred organisations. The' Dominion has manufactured the whole of the military clothing, boots, blankets.'etc., issued to her troops before they leave her shores. The casualties in the New Zealand Forces have amounted to 52,674. and 14,463 of her sons "have been 'killed or died. Only 371 New Zealanders have been taken prisoners in «11 theatre; since the outbreak of war,'a percentage of .7 of the number of casualties. Twenty-two thousand men have been returned to the jJominion incapacitated. Of this number 750 have >een placed _on 'land and provided with financial assistance.. Half a million acres, partly of State land and partly of aenuired areas, have been set aside for soldiers who Will return. Hiis area is being added to from time to time by compulsory purchase. Of incapacitated men 1i.499 have notified the' authorities that they "do not require assistance. New Zetland's war nension list is already .annually, equal to J!1 per head of her population. The State assists to the extent of 12s. a week PTtv soldier called upon who baa current financial obligations undertaken prior to the date, of his calling up. ' In France the division has hnd constant service in the line, and has taken a prominent part in most of the big ensaeemcnts since its transference to the Western theatre in April, 1915. The fighting finalities of the troops are well known. In Palestine the Dominion main- N tains a. brigade of.. mounted ' rifles. :In t l( e N"'V /crvKnrl,' from New Zealanders in Imperial and and Australian units and in the Nnvy, of whom there are many) sever Yiptori a have b°.en awarded, 108 D.R.O. tnednls, 37fl Militnrv Crosses. 255 "O.C.M.'r. 1532 Military Medals, 51 b"« to medals. Other derations in M.» Woes' ar»:-ir.C.B.'=. 2: mVs,'7: K.C.M.G/r, S: C.M.G.'fl. 35; n/R.K's. 2; 0.8.TC/'!,. <1: 3: PH frp«s (First Order). 7; Second Order, 41: Meritorious Kervion Mednlp, 1H: mentions in 1090. <lecornHo"«: — yreneli. 52: Bi"»'nn. 7; Sorbin". 9Q; Monfonenrin, 3: M: Ttalia 1 ', 6. Outside the division" Victoria Crosses havo been won by five other . New Zealanders. Tho Dominion has a compulsory education system onerntinir ' throughout ''er forces, employing 130 instructors. Phe simn'ies he'- coin and hosp'tnl requirements in England in vegetables, eg?s, etc., from her own cultivated areas. FIGHTING INFLUENZA. The influenza is. far too serious to trifle with. And when we,ask you to.get Baxter's Lung Preserver, we are not asking yoii to experiment, or tnke chances with an unknown specific. "Baxter's" has been the staunch friend of New Zealanders for over 50 yegrs. It is protection against attack, and is unequalled as tonic for convalescents. run-down constitution in a way little short of marvellous. 2s. Gd. buys generous sized bottle. Chemists and Stores.—Advt. THEY GO TOGETHER. BEAUTY AND REXONA SOAP. To obtain and keep that clear, unblemished skin and bright, glossy hair which is the delight of every girl and woman you should use only an absolutely pure vegetable soap. , Such a 6oap is Kexona Skin and Facial Soap. It is cooling, soothing, and healing, and is medicated on th'o 6ame principle as Rexona, the Rapid Healer, the value of which in iho treatment of skin disease is famous throughout the world. Simply use Rexona Skin and Facial Soap regularly and you will be delighted with the improvement. .Ca-re for yourself arid others will care for you. Easona Soap, Is, Gd. per tablet.—Advt.