NEW ZEALAND’S FIGHTERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 16 March 1917, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND’S FIGHTERS.

MR. LONG'S ENCOMIUMS. ON PHYSIQUE AND FITNESS. ALLIES’ INFINITE RESOURCES. LONDON, March 9. An Interesting and historic event took place to-day, when Mr. Walter Long (Secretary of State for the Colonies), accompanied by the Under-Sec-retary (Mr. A. H. D. R. Steel-Mait-. land), paid a visit to the New Zealand forces in the field. One brigade and, representatives of all other units were> drawn up on a tree-lined road in Northern France. On arriving on the scene Mr. Long, who was accompanied by Sir Alexander Godley, was met by Sir A. H. Russell, commanding the ' division. T-he party proceeded along the line on foot. Mr, Long Keenly observed each unit and shook hands with all the officers, down to company commanders. Afterwards the lengthy column marched past to the music of bands, making a highly impressive sight. The men were in marching kit, and looked splendid. During the parade a German airman, flying unusually low, attempted to come over t-he road, but a perfect fusillade from the anti-aircraft guns stopped its progress, and one shot, bursting close made it retreat hurriedly. . The party afterwards visited the divisional baths used by from 1000 to 1500 men daily, the washhouse, where 150 French women ar e constantly employed washing the socks, shirts, and towels of the division, and menu- I ing and drying rooms. A field ambulance and the pioneers were also inspected. Finally the party saw the $ dentists and dental mechanics at work. The dentists have already made thousands of stoppings and dentures. All this proved highly interesting. In conversation afterwards, Mr. '.Long said he was greatly affected by the thought that a little country like New Zealand should send such a splendid force so many thousand miles to fight in a foreign land. He ’ gave the following message for the people of New Zealand; “I was enormously impressed by the fine phy- , sique and fitness of all ranks, and the • grim determination that is the secret , of success. I am sure that if the peo- [ pie of New Zealand could see them as I saw them to-day they would feel, as []■ I did, that an Empire which can com- | mand such resources must have not only victory before it, but an ever greater place in the world than ever before. Speaking generally, feel perfectly confident that with the troops we have, led as fney are led, our efforts can only end in one way. The end has been postponed because the German is a determined fighter, but the immense resources he is confronted with, and still more our determination, must convince him that he must suffer defeat. In my judgment our resources are infinite, and sooner or later the enemy will realise this. The great cause that has brought us together in defence of our Empire and ■of freedom and justice, and the protection of minorities, is already receiving almost world-wide recognition.”