THE RAROTONGANS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 6

THE RAROTONGANS

THEIR PART IN THE WAR

WORK IN PALESTINE

There has been ;no limeligM for the Karotongans who havo fought for the Empire in the war. It is' true that they were few in numbers, but as a unit of the South Pacific peoples who went forth to -battle for.the Union Jack, their part ''has 'bee'ti'ah honourable one. The first group of volunteers from the Cook Islands and Niue numbered 60, and were trained at Nairow Neck (Auckland). They ) ' went forward with the Third Maori Contingent in 1915. After spending two i months, in Egypt, they went on. with the division to France;' and remained there —doing • regular'Ai'my-ninn work—until some eight months ago, when they were sent back'tp Egypt-to'ioin'un with their compatriots who had followed their trail'across the'seas'on the same high mission. The Second Ravotongan Reinforcement consisted of 150 brown stal-

/ warts from Rarotonga,' Mangaia,- Alui- >. taki, and other scattered islands of the group. They, too. received their fir*t lessons in the art' of war at Narrow •Neck, and left New Zealand for Egypt in November, 1916. They pitched their tents in that 'famous clearing ground, ■'Moascnr, on ,the Red Sea. There they . ..Iweresattached for special work to a British formation of heavy artillery. The Rarotongans were found to be splendid workers on a solid job. They were fine, solid, muscular chaps,'-who could stand up to strenuous work in torrid weather, and just how; much such men were needed will be realised when it is remem- . l>ered what a tremendous job it was to.; feed -the advancing armies with ■ food and the guns with ammunition in .. such, a climate. They, formed a part of

the great ammunition eclumn, and for work on the huge aniimniition dumps the Rarotongans were unsurpassed. Speaking of their work in that direction, oue of' their officers said: "No race in the world could have done better." Captain Bush, 0.C., states that no contingent has a cleaner record from a conduct or a 'medical point of view. When the sweating'troops lay for months—an apparently uuending' timebefore the ancient city.of Gaza, in Palestine, ' four* detachments of the Rarotongans wero employed oh the big 6-inch howitzers, and three or four detachments

skilfully handled the medium trench mor- . ' ..tars. The ; Rarotongans' were greatly praised for the good work they did in the /long attack on the Turkish stronghold. \Tho. Third Rarotongans went forward ■,' .'in June last year, and in' a. few weeks \ ' they joined up in Palestine with their own main body, which by this' time 1 numbered 310. When the big push -northward commenced on' September 19 last year they formed part of tho ammunition column on the coastal section, basing on El Jobil,'working along the ■ - c6astyyia. Haifa, Tyi?e,'Saida», and reacli- ■ ing- as fa'i' north as .Beirut. To understand "the dimensions of this task, it 'should'be explained that the light rail- . way '■ runs inland, and the Hejaz line had been badly cut by the enemy, so . that, the ammunition for the coastal section' had to be "carried the whole way from El Jebil to Beirut by motor lorries -—a seven days' journey—and a 'fivo days' journey between the two ports, Haifa and Beirut. The lorries ware driven by A.S.C. men, but it wns the fine work of the Rarotongans 'on'the (dumps'that helped to keep them going. ;They stood up to,the gruelling work like -tradesmen, and-gained'a good name for themselves. The only thin; that overcame- the Islanders was malaria, encountered anywhere, from Jaffa and northwards last year.; 70 per cent, of ; them were affected. Still the mortality - was not heavy. Only twelve men died during the last two'months of the cam-' paign. Jjjfluenza'in a light form was ■- also experienced among the men in Palestine last year, but no deaths were recorded among tho Rarotongans. Officers and mon agree in praising the ■good, wort of Dr. : Dawson (formerly i : medical .officer at- Rarotonga), 'who has .. heen attached to the contingent for the past year. Dr. Dawson (with Dr. Watt district health officer) holds that the sickness which-'occurred-on' the vovago- ' ji™ B was not pneumonic, influenza,"but light touches -of ordinary .lobar, pneumonia, probably. due to the men sleeping on the deck in the tropics; ■ "IT B ' ve tne "boys a very good ... - name.- Ihey proved• themselves amen-" '-able, to discipline, and, under control were splendid workers. • In their nature - WSF..were, like children—easily • amused and of a naturally care-free, happy dis- £ oSltlon - „ Every -care".was taken that they should not be given opportunities of getting liquor, for the Cook Islander 1 wmpiy-goes mad-under its influence. It was.not thought that oni the average they . .desired, strong drink,.buYovery care was .taken..to see .that .temptation was not .;. thrown in their way.. '-.What .will, be the influence of the . Rarotongans.., experience -0f .Western civilisation? - The officers could not ven- " •' ture ,, T °J M , mo -1' »'ut that an influence ..woukt.be.tell they were quite certain. It must be remembered that the only book printed in their own language- up to the present-has-been the Bible; they : had not seen a train or a tram until ••therenme'to New-Zealand, and most ot they had; not worn boots until they J™ 16 '! np with tho, Forces. Since then I they had been in the receipt of ss. a day whereas they could never earn nibre than Ss. a day in the Cook' Group. What the - men, had seen < and. learned would make, for general enlightenment, which does not always spell greater happiness ewith the island peoples. They quickly learned how well paid they were. The .-lahitians were., conscripted by the FrencV and received" 2M. a, day, as against the ss. a day paid to the Rarotongans, and whilst the latter were satisthe h d " S the difference

Among the contingent-are men who toe won distinctions. Sergeant TCoraka Pa George-the son of a Rarotongan chief-wbo performed notably well with the howitzers before Gaza, was -awarded *??.., Distinguished Conduct Medal, and Military Medals- were awarded' to Sergeants Apa, JEughes, and Scudder for gallantry m France.

The contingent is in charge of Cantain A. G. Bush' (formerly of Paeroa) who has Tinder him Lieutenant B. Tangney (of Inyercargill), And Lieutenant B. Gibbons (of Auckland). These officers will Proceed to Rarotonga with the men by the- Paloonn-on February 18 It is anticipated that the contingent will be, given n great welcome-on arrival at ->their-island home....

livemtiß character, and.novelty was lent the scene by the quaint dances executed by some of the islanders, who vibrate with an nctue rhythmic sense, and are also splendid natural harmonists. A lcinematop;rnph operator took shots at the gathering, so that a wider public than those who were present yesterday will be able to see the Barotongans n't Play

It was anticipated that the visitors would (jive a display of their swimming powers, but as the weal her was rather cold and gloomy when they left the island in the morning,' it was considered unwise to'allow, of any,swimming races. This caused considerable disappointment, as many folk from Wellington and the neighbouring bays .visited Day's Bay solely to sec the. Iturotongnns 'in the water. .Mention should also be made oMho-suitable presents I he. Y.itf.C.A. provided for the various athletic events. The steamer Jaiiie Scddon was to have conveyed the visitors from the island to the Bay, but at. llw.last moment the (iovornment steamer was commandeered to bring the Paloona's mail ashore. The Y.M'.C.A. was helped out bv Mr. Heath, manager of the Ea.stbourne'Ferry, who arranged for the Duchess to call al: the island on her 10.15 a.m. trip to the Bay. The troops were brought back to town by the Cobur, and headed by the Watersiders' Band, marched in enter: of four,to the Y.Ji.C.A'., where they took tea. It was almost a novelty to witness a column of soldiers marching through oisr. streets, and the husky islanders were acclaimed by the spectators as tiviv swung along to the lilt of ."Over There." .After tea they marched again to the Cambridge Terrace Congregational Rehoolrceii!, where they were, generously entertained. There the prizes won during the day were presented, and a programme of music (to which the visitors harmoniously contributed) was submitted).