Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1901. HOME AGAIN.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 19 July 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1901. HOME AGAIN.

To-day was a day of welcome and rejoicing to the friends and relatives of those troopers who returned safe to Greymouth after their warlike experiences in South Africa. It is a grand sentiment—" God speed those who go to fight the battle for Fatherland," and we hail it as a good sign that our youth are prepared to come to the front in the cause of that freedom which has given Britain its proud preeminence. The present war has been an object lesson to the world. From east to west, from north to south, the call for aid was answered almost unasked. The occasion bad arisen, and now was the time for the sons of the Empire to show their loyalty, and nobly was the request responded to. It took Europe by surprise. It was argued that the Anglo-Saxon race was done. I hat the that once governed it was effete and dead ; that her colonies, so far as lyalty was concerned, existed only in name; and that it only wanted a strong Continental combination to wipe out that aggressive and sturdy little island, which dared to uphold the cause of freedom and independence throughout the world. Europe has now found that it will not do to meddle with the old lion, for she has a mightier power in her whelps to be reckoned with. It is not so very many years since that

Dalley, the New South Wales Premier, formed the first contingent in Australasia and sent it to the assistance of the British in the Soudan. Since then " the thin red. lino of kinship " has grown stronger, and has taught the world that the mottj of the Order of the Thistle— "nemo me- impunc lacessit " (no one annoys me with impunity) is still existent and as strong as ever it was. Our boys of to-day have proved it, and this is why wo are proud of them and tender them our heartiest welcome. They went to fight for "the right that needs assistance," and they have shown their faith in the cause for which they left their hearths and homes. Now •this is the faith that the white men hold When they build their homes afar; Freedom for ourselves and freedom for our sons, And failing freedom—war. Wc have proved our faith—bear witness to our faith. Dear souls of freedom slain: Oh ! well for the world when the white men join To prove their faith again.