SOLDIERS’ FAREWELL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 34, 8 October 1915, Page 5

SOLDIERS’ FAREWELL.

BIG NIGHT AT ECMONT CLUB. FINE SPEECH BY MR HORNSBY At A very enjoyable farewell social was tendered to the Stratford men who leave for Trentham on Monday next, by the Home Defence Corps in conjunction with the Egmont Club at the Club Rooms last night, when Captain McMillan, of the Homp Del once Corps, presided over an attendance of quite 200 citizens of the town and district.

The concert programme was remarkable for the excellent talent displayed bv each performer in vocal or histrionic items, and the evening’s entertainment was voted on all sides to be one of the most enjoyable yet bold in Stratford. The president of the Egmont Club. Mr J. McMahon, welcomed all present. and extended a special welcome to those boys who so bravely and unreservedly offered their services to the Empire, and to the members of the Stratford Home Defence Corps.

Captain McMillan, who then occupied the chair, thanked the Egmont Club for helping his Corps in arranging a social to the boys who were leaving for the front—(applause)— Captain McMillan read apologies from Messrs X. -T. King. J. B. Hine. C. Arden. L. Roberts, and Private Ray, who were for different reasons unable to be present. The speaker said that the hoys who were going away to fight could be relied upon to put up a good fidlitv The boys from New Zealand in his opinion, were every bit as good as the Regulars in the Imperial Army, and much better than those belonging to the enemy’s armies. Boys who had volunteered, but bad been rejected, were invited to the function. (Hear, hear). These boys did not receive all honor that was due to them, and many were heart broken at the thought of not getting away. Those who were not able to go to the front should be fitting themselves as shootists, and learning drill ; knowing what a sad plight our country was in they u should all he ready. They did not knoff what ablebodied man might be needed to fill the vacant places'. ' In regard to men who ,had* been rejected, Captiyn McMillan said the patriotic Committee: had , written ,to the Minister ,of tyefeufce delating to)th e distribution! o.f certificates to men under; the, standard’ required Jj.y vtlie Department, and had received; tlje l following re ; ply : —“ln Mfawer to your letter, 1 have to say thajt the, Mm.s ■ fo,i;„ , some tltoje issued certificates acknowledging offers of services with the Expeditio*ai'v Forces in such cases as you refer to. certifying that the personnamed registered his name for active service, but it was found that he,did not come up to the present standard' required for ' active service—yours faithfully, .] . Alien!J?’ m}'. .■ '■ 01 , toil*

Continuing. Captain McMillan said that inquiries had been made at the local Defence Office, and it was ascertained that so far no certificates had been given to rejected men. The Committee it their duty, and wjAg, fWjt■ .joshing' foa certificates I’op. tb<* l.bca! dfliife. Before resuming said be bad received an extra verse to the National Ant bom. and be invited all present to Join with him in singing it at the conclusion of the original verses. The verse was as lollows: Cod save our splendid men. Send them safe Home again, God save our men! Keep them victorious, valiant and chivalrous, They are so dear to iis, God save our men!

Captain McMillan read the following telegram from Mr -I. B. Mine, M.P.. “All hoiior to the boys who arc* being fa re welled to-night, kindly express my admiration for their determination to aid the Empire, and tender my apology to your Corps for my inability to he present owing to duties in Parliament.” MR HORNSBY’S FINE SENTIMENT When he rose to speak. Air Hornsby received a great ovation. He thanked the audience for their kind reception. After all. he said, a country is what the men make it; they are the foundation and superstructure. If the advice of the late Lord Roberts had been accepted, the war would not have lasted three months. Even it Hie Mother Country had seen fit to adopt a similar. scheme to that in operation in New Zealand.’ the war would have ended long ago. Thousands ol lives would have been saved il England and

her Allies had been prepared as Germany was. France was not ready. It was the same old story—her people were too busy drinking absinthe and talking of liberty to think of war. Germany, with her Allies, had taken us at a disadvantage at last. We had gone into the light and would see it through, but the end could tint be until Prussian militarism had been ex- , polled. Why do we suppose Britain went on the side of the weak? Because it is her policy not to break treaties and to always assist the weak and help on the side of right. When the British Ambassador last saw Herr Betbman von Hollweg before the war. you can recognise why he went into such a towering rage when he was asked “Do you mean to say lor the sake of a scrap of paper you will go to war with an old friend!” Hollweg further asked: “Have you counted the cost?” The answer he received was a true British answer, and made by a “boy of the bull-dog breed”; “We never count the cost where our honor is concerned”—(Applause). The speaker said that any school boy at the present time could name the different parts of the New Zealand I lag. We British men have a magnificent tradition to live up to, and if we only live uj) to that tradition, Gid will see that those lighting on the side of righteousness will be victorious. “T want to impress on the young men the true significance of the New Zealand Flag, and if they live up to the •significance ol that Flag, they will have nothing to he sorry for. T do not want to*preach, hut for God’s sake, I ask. those who are facing every inch of the way, when temptation conies, try and resist, and keep yourselves clean.” One great fact in the war. said the speaker, was the glorious accomplishment of gallant little Belgium. If it had not been for her, we would not he walking freely in the streets to-day. For three weeks she held up the German army, and if the Kaiser’s orders had been carried out, Belgium would have fallen into the hands of the Huns, then Russia and France. Later the Germans would have had a try at England, hut all this was averted by little Belgium. In six weeks from the declaration of war, an English expeditionary force landed in France. “Listen,” said the speaker, “f fancy I can bear the men embarking on the transports, hoarding the trains, loading their munitions, and I now marching along the road on the wa,t to the faring line singing ‘lts a long way to Tipperary.’ ” Fifty per ce'nt. of those who had trudged that long road bad died glorious deaths, having died for their country. When the Kaiser knew that the English force had landed, re to one of his officers: “Let my Bavarian people trample the contemptible little army in tbe dust.” When the engagement came, however- and those who took part in it and were alive, would never forget it—“ That contemptible little ariny made them throw up their arms ;<nd be captured. For twentyfour j hours, no.three days,.that plucky little* a fin y' o f' .125, pi|o men checked tl)e progress of the Bavarians and stopped them from crumpling up, the French lilfe a-sheet of paper. That contemptible little army held up the enenvV bleedingly for three days and nights and the odds were eight to one. Why|is it that a power like Germany, ■ whost* people are so scientific, are so develisli ? It is because her people learned the doctrines of materialism. The.vf were not cultured on the national side of man. Bet ns have ideals as well a s ideas. When, this war comes to a conclusion, and we are successful, he believed society would be regenerated throughout the world. Never again will one man be permitted to be able to plunge the whole world into misery and scenes of bloody actions. Under mjr Flag men of all nationalities are welcomed, and to-day soldiers of Genua i,i-pa rent age were fighting for New Zealand —the land they love. These boys had not only offered their services to the country they loved, and wished to honorably serve it, but they bad died for it. Young Jack Petersen, a Scandinavian, had left his mother, and he was the youngest child, to fight for his adopted country, and the poor boy had been killed. When seen a few days ago Mrs Petersen said all she hoped to hear about her son was ‘ “Whether Jack had a chance before he died to prove himself a man.” A very disturbing telegram bad been received that day about Greece, but we have had similar ones before, and will receive more still. A hundred years- ago, during the Napoleonic wars, England was in a worse position at any time than at tbe darkest hour to-day. Mr Hornsby paid a tribute to the valuable work of Lord Kitchener as head of the English army. When war was declared the Foreign ‘Office stated that Bord Kitchener would have to go to Egypt, as he was the only man who could hold that country for the Fnglish. Mr Asquith said “No,” and after consulting with bis Council it was decided that Lord Kitchener should assume control of the army. Tbe speaker said be did not care a tig for any man’s politics in Britain or in tbe world, be wanted to say a word of gratitude to Mr Lloyd George, and he would say it. (Cheers). Think of that little Welshman, think of how he went to France and arranged to pool the funds of three groat Fmpires, and through bis work Britain was able to boast to-day that she is the mother ol Parliament, and mother of the earth. I he Old Countix at the present time is finding three million men. These are not all in the

filing line, but Lord Kitchener estimates they are needed. Lord Kitchener stated some time ago that the war would last three years. At the end of the war when the plenipotentiaries sat round the table reconstructing the map, England, with her three million men ready armed, will be able to demand of any nation that which she needs. A widow in Connaught had given ten sons to the British Army—five were in the Regulars, and live in Kitchener’s Army—-and sad to relate five bad been killed while fighting with one of the Connaught 'divisions. The old widow sits waiting for her sons, and when seen a few weeks ago one of her wounded boys wa s near her. The old lady was proud of her boys !uid did not regret at sending them to ihe front. This was one of the most glorious testimonies in the present war, and he made mention of it because bis heart went out to a much-maligned people in having joined the Colors and dropping minor quarrels for the time being. Those boys faced the enemy and Fought like British men ought to fight. In the present war the method adopted is similar to that used by our forefathers in tbe Maori Wars, trench fighting.

and lighting for one hill top after another. In concluding, Mr Hornsby said that one thing he would like to see was the German High Fleet to come from its anchorage and let Admiral Jellicoe “get at it.” Speaking to the hoys who had offered themselves for services with the forces. Mr Hornsby said that he, as a representative of the citizens of New Zealand, hoped they would come back whole and sound, but there was always tbe chance in war that one would not come back. Those going now were going to save the lives of others. .“You boys who are going. God bless you, you are setting a fine example. Let the boys present who have no ties, think, and enlist, and do their whack,” The old men, many have offered themselves for service, but have been rejected, will do their best for the hoys when they return. “If it is any certain person’s fate to lie under the stars on Gallipoli, 1 promise you that person will never be forgotten, and we will follow hint in prayer. I extend to you all the good wishes that a heart can give another heart for offering your services, nay.

dying for a great and righteous cause.” (Cheers). , K Mr .I.AV. Boon, AI ay or of Stratford. r in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Hornsby for bis address, said he wished to thank the speaker on behalf of; ; the citizens of Stratford. Mr Boon said he did not like to see the boys going away; they were the cream of the country, but next time a force was ‘ needed it would be in readiness.— (Cheers). ) Mr AV. P. Kirkwood seconded Mr Boon’s motion, which was carried by acclamation, all present standing. On the motion of Capt. McMillan, a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to Messrs Lander and AVard, the joint secretaries, for their excellent work in connection with social. Mr Lander suitably replied. During the evening selections were rendered by the Club’s orchestra, and were much enjoyed. Mr A. F. AViison, who recited “For Your Country, Do A’our Bit.” composed by himself for the occasion, in introducing biinself to the audience, said; “If the verses do not apply to' you. tell the other fellow!” but Mr Wilson can rest assured that the words of his poem touched the hearts of all present. , * The ever-popular Mr Martin, in several comic sketches, kept the audience in fits of laughter. Mr Hanford, who is well-known locally, contributed many items, and bis recitations, songs, and songs at the piano were much appreciated. The Rev. Dent, of Eltham. brought the house down with his rendering of “Father o’ Flynn,” which was given .as an encore to “Soldiers of the King.” An excellent song, “There is a Land,” was spendidly sung by Mr Brian Malone. Mr Hill Johnson’s rendering of the “A eteran’s Song,” and others were much appreciated. Air Fred Foley, of His Majesty’s Theatre, gave an exhibition of shadowgraphs. bis “turn” being much appreciated. During the time the audience was partaking of an excellent supper, the orchestra played selections, which were much enjoyed. At the conclusion of the social, Mr Hornsby met each one of the recruits, and alter shaking hands, wished them good hick, God speed, and a safe return. The gathering dispersed about midnight after the singing of “Auld Lang > Syne” and cheers for the hoys who are leaving Stratford to-join the Colors. Mr .). W. McMillan (captain) and the members of the Home Defence Corps desire to thank the members of the Kgmont Chib and all those gentlemen who assisted in the programme, also those who lent their cars and limiting, and every one who contributed iu any way to tlie success of a memorable evening under the auspices ot the Corps.