REPATRIATION OF THE GERMAN INTERNET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 86, 6 January 1919, Page 6

REPATRIATION OF THE GERMAN INTERNET

MARRIED MEN IN THEIR GUARD. Sir,—May 1 beg a little space in your columns to say something in regard to the composition uf the guard to repatriate the German internees:' As" is easily expected, a large number of applications have been made for inclusion, but it is possible if stringent economy is insisted on, and.only single'men are selected, that an unintentional unappreciation of some who have voluntarily given their very best services for nearly tho full period of the war, in many cases to their financial detriment, who so far have not appeared in the limelight of public endorsement. This would be quite foreign to the policy of most liberal treatment to its soldiers adopted by the N.Z. Government. I am referring particularly to those of the original Samoan Relief Force, one of whom this writer was. So little has been heard of Samoa that many have regarded its occupation as a mere tropical picnic, and this view may bs netu'ly correct during the last two years, Jiut I wouid respectfully submit, Sir, that those who volunteered with purely patriotic motives at tho outset, and lanued at Apia, in 1915, took an undesirable risk ot utter decimation, had a. turn of tne wtieel brouglit the iiatjves of tne island into • hostility. And i);e were not to know time tins would uot be so. i''or the information of your renders, nnu mayue tne reiresning oi tne memories oi inosu m power, i wouiu wisn tu point out luui luc oauiuun ivyiiel roict, nuuiuu.ing uouu uuJ, luijK. over tne uoii iioni noany nUu soiuicra—some uispuricy. There were at we tiwo on ouuioci between tnil'ty anu forty thoubiuiu. natives, witu >ery mue, if any, oi'iuvaiice aguinsi tne vjei'iiiuiis. v.iio, culinary to tne brutui policy adopted in .aii'ioa, treated, .tnciu wen. _ It is well kuoiin turn me loiloweis ox lung uainassese were .aistinctiy ' lavouraoic, and to yi\e Olio maUilice u[ now tuey ±/aiiu\:lcU tu tne natives, who aie.uiidouuteuiy it wy une race, me uerniau Oovernor lumsen, uiiu lnaiiy nign uurinuu oiuciais, uiso suuinitieu tneuiien t-a tu tne baiuoan outturns oi uciiig tauuueti irum loin .to sinte, a most patniul process taking a iong unit; U) cuuiiJieto i 'xiiere were aiso uii tne iaianti oi upoiu, between Mo anu thictf tuousnnu Cuiucmj cuoiies, worKiiig mostly lor uerniaii planters; in auuilion to tne Uunnail pupuiatioii ui some lew uunuleu. i can assure you, till',, it was tuny rccogniteu tunc ii tne Uermans couid ha\e secured a rising of tne (juinese in their employ, tile then occupying lorce would have uteu largely outnumbered. Jint tuei'o was alivnja in audition the possibility oi men- liinueuce with tne natives, assisted by laiuasese, and so lor tne nrst eignteeu inoutus at ally rate, tno ltanuiul ui soimers nau to maintain every precaution with its consequent tension and duties. There were some, of course, who, loi-getfing their enlistment lor tno duration of the war, "swung the lead" alter nine to twelve montns' service/ and comparatively few liavo from a yariety of causes seen the thing through, but of those who loyally remained to the .«nd, these are tome who are not only physically capable of taking some part m tno proposed guard, but axe men with" good service records also •It is on their behalf, as well as my own, as one of them, that I would respectfully submit that at . least a percentage of these be included in the guard as a mark' of appreciation. It will surely not be forgotten that we were as anxious to go to the front as anyone , was, and that age only, which at that time debarred, prevented us, and it will surely be conceded that having spent nearly four years on a tropical island away from all friends, and in ' a most trying climate, we are in a small way entitled to share in 6ome of the spoils of war. No one can be more anxious than the writer to see the disastrous result of the Huns' insolent disregard of the wholesome caution, "bewarefhow you tread on his tail"—l. am, etc. ( 19/194