AN IMPRESSIVE SPEECH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 34, 11 February 1915, Page 8

AN IMPRESSIVE SPEECH.

SiR GEORGE REID IN EGYPT. Sir George Reid has delivered many fine speeches in the covise of Ills life, writes Captain C. E. Bean, from Cairo, but one is ready to prophesy that the speech which will live in history longest, both because of its time and place, and because of the classic stylo of the speech itself, was the short, simple appeal which he delivered to the First Australian Division on the last day of 1914. He delivered a similar address to half of the division the day before. About 8000 men were drawn up on each occasion in brigade mass, making three sides of a square, on the slope at the northwestern corner of the camp. Over the ridge on the southern side of the valley, with its crown of pink desert rocks, peered more than half the height of the two larger pyramids. As .Sir George ileid, with General Maxwell, General Bridges, and, on the second day, General Bird wood; and the High Commissioner for New Zealand (Mr Mackenzie), came through the Interval between the regiments, the massed troops presented arms, and the reflection of the brilliant sun from BUOO bayonets as they moved was almo.it dazzling. One Infantry battalion had come in just before the parade, stringing across the desert, after its day’s work, the sun twinkling from the distant burning brass instruments of the band, the last companies scarcely to be guessed behind the white cloud of their own dust, the men in their shirts, sleeves rolled hack, fit -and brown and cheerful. They wound down through the hard pink sand ridges to their place in the rear of their brigade; and when, half an hour later, the parade swung past, for a whole hour by the clock, in column, along the clean new metalled road into camp, Sir John Maxwell and their new commander, Sir William Birdwood, who, with General Bridges, watched then), were genuinely impressed. The discipline of the Australian soldier all through has been excellent on parade. It is oidy occasionally that a percentage of the men—elder men rather than youngsters—have not remembered that they carry the good name of Australia with them when off parade, and not only when at work. A FAMILIAR FIGURE.

Sir George Reid addressed the parade from a low platform, erected on the vacant side of the square, exactly opposite the pyramids. Sir George Reid is in his seventieth year, hut, with the art of an experienced orator, lie spoke very slowly and pitched his voice high. His words were audible to almost every man in the parade, and even to some of the men at work amongst the tents in the valley below. It was the same familiar figure that Australians know—the top hat, the eyeglass, the frock coat, one hand on the rail, the other raised against the pyramids and the blue sky, and 8000 Australians before him, intent on every word.

This speech was Sir George Retd’s one and final oration to the troops. He is sufficiently experienced to realise that the work is now for the soldiers. Such help as the oldest and most experienced of Australia’s political orators could give them he compressed once and for all into the following words:—

“Sir John Maxwell, General Birdwood, Mr Mackenzie, General Bridges, officers and men, I am glad to see you all. lam only sorry that I cannot take each of you by the hand of friendship. Many anxious mothers have implored me to look after their sons. ' Alas! it is impossible; but 1 rejoice to think that you are under officers-who will lie true guardians of you throughout the length of this great venture. “The youngest of these august pyramids was built 2000 years before our Sayiour was born. They have been silent witnesses to many strange events, but I do not think that they could ever have looked down upon so unique a spectacle as this splendid array of Australian soldiers, massed to defend them. Who can look upon these majestic monuments of antiquity Avithout emotion, without regret? How pathetic, how stupendous, how useless, have been these gigantic efforts to preserve the bodily presence of Egyptian kings from the oblivion to which all mortality is doomed. Tt is the soul of deeds that lives for ever. Imperishable memories have sprung from nameless graves on land and sea whilst stately sepulchres are dumb. The homes of our Imperial race are scattered far and wide but the breed remains the same —as staunch, as stalwart, as loyal in the east and west and in our own south as in the northern Mother Land.

“What brings those forces here? Why do their tents stretch across this narrow parting of the ways between worlds new and old? Are you on a quest in search of gain such las led your fathers to the Austral shore? Are you preparing to invade and outrange weaker nationalities in lawless raids of conquest? Thank Cod, your mission is as pure and as noble as any soldiers undertook to rid the world of would-be tyrants.

AUSTRALIA’S STAINLESS HONOR

“In this bright climate, beneath these peaceful skies, which tempt so strongly, do not forget the awful ordeal which is near you. Do not forget the fearful risks which you are approaching. Do not forget the (Tesperate battles long drawn out which you must fight and win. Do not

.forget Lord Kitchener’s warning to the soldiers of the Empire. Ho not forget the fair fame and stainless honor of Australia committed to your keeping. A few bad ones can sully the reputation of a whole army. If such there be in these ranks before me they must bo shunned. They must be thrust out. The first and best of all victories you can ever win is the victory of self-control. Hearts of solid oak, nerves of flawless steel come that way. “Remember the generous rivalries that await you. Remember the glorious soldiers of the British Isles, of the British Empire, who long to greet you ou the battle-line. Remember the heroes of Belgium, of France, of Russia, of Servia and Japan. Remember all the fleets watching on every sea. The allied interest is deep and vital, but there are interests deeper and more vital still. The whole destinies of the world are at stake in this titanic struggle. Shall the hands of fate point backwards to universal chaos or forward to everlasting peace? Backward they must not, shall not go. It is impossible. True culture, crowned with chivalry and good faith, will prove too strong once more for savage tricks and broken faith.

“Good luck. May God be with you uch and all until we meet again.”