RARATONGANS IN PALESTINE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1758, 29 November 1917, Page 3

RARATONGANS IN PALESTINE

do Very good work. “The Raratongans,” stated N the Hon. Sir Janies (Minister for Defence) to a Wellington press representative on Tuesday, “have proved very satisfactory. Some 2f,|U of them, it will tje renumbered, left New Zealand in oxie section some months ago. They have beeri Use<] in Palestine on " the Jiqe pf gopiquinicafiofis, and (he • officer in command whiles (hat they have satisfied everyopc, and hgvcjievor ogee heen-foimd wanting ■ in the very heavy work they have been called upon to do. Generally, their health has been very good. For discipline, general behavior, and clean living their reputation is excellent. ‘We have had to tarn out at all hours of the night,’ slates the officer, ‘and I cannot speak too highly of the cheerful manner these boys come to their work, and they carry enormous loads.’ So far as, I can judge,” said Sir James Allen, -“they are a great, success, and they want more of them. The officer adds: ‘At the present moment it is night, and a unpleasant dust storm is raging, yet in their bivouacs they are singing away as happy as schoolboys; and they are always thus.’ ”