THE KANGAROO MARINES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 141, 4 February 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE KANGAROO MARINES.

'I he following are the opening sentences of Captain R. W. Campbell's new book, "The Kangaroo Marines'' published by C'assell and Company, La. Belle Sauvago, London. Captain Campbell is the author of "Private .Snu:t Tamson. " Wanted One thousand cheerful toughs to enlist for the period of the war in the Kangaroo Marines. Boosers. scrimshankers, and loonies barred. Gent.'s wth b : g waists and little hearts are warned off. Sharp-shooters on the Wallaby, able to live on condensed air und boiled snakes are cordially invited. No parsons' references require:!. Ja:karoos, cattlemen, roustabouts, shearer:-: —every sort of handy, man welcome. Pay, (is per day, and a l l the "jewels'' in the Sultan' harem. This is to lie the crack corps of the Australian Force. Hurry up and join. (Sgned) Sam Killem, Lieut-Colonel Commanding.' 1 This alluring advertisement appeared in the front page of "The Bushman's Weekly." a Sydney production, renowned for its wit and originality. It was designed to t : c-kle the sides of the horny-handed men of the bush, and to rope in the lies tof them. For these men of the Never-Ncver Land arc soldiers born and heroes in the toughest job. They think deep and know the way of things. If they appear wild and uncouth, they carry beneath that scrubby exterior the will of men and the open heart of the child. Moreover, they love the Motherland. This was specially true of the four who tenanted the l'ttle shanty 011 the sheep station of "Old Graham," one of the wealthiest men in Autsralia. The quartette consisted of Bill Buster, a typical Cornstalk with a nut-brown face, twinkling eyes and a -pice of the devil and the Lord in h s soul. Next came Claude Dufair, a handsome remittance man with an eyeglass and a drawl. Ibis fellow had personality. He insisted on using kid gloves wnen do'ng anything, from dung-lifting to sheepsheartng. Paddy Doolen was the third member. He was an Irishman by birth, but Australian by adoption. He had been in the bush since lie was a k : d. A kind soul was Paddy, with the usual weakness—the craving for the "cratur." Fourth and by 110 means last, was Sandy Brown. a Glasgow stoker, who lie.d skipped away in a tramp from the Broomielaw because of another fellow's wife. A mixed bunch, thee four, vou will agree. All with • history, part of it bad, but the main part certainly good. It takes a f heart to be a bushman.