THE FIRST SEVEN DIVISIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 January 1918, Page 3

THE FIRST SEVEN DIVISIONS.

In moving the thanks of Parliament to the Navy and Army, Mr. Lloyd George paid an eloquent tribute to the original British Expeditionary Force. "Our Expeditionary Force numbered at the beginning of the war 1(30.000 men/’ (ho said. V'Our Expeditionary Forces to-day number over' 3,000,000 probably the greatest feat of military organisation in the history of the world. It never could have been accomplished but for the heroism and self-sacrifice of the old army—the old army, the finest body of troops, In the world at that time. More highly trained, more disciplined, more perfect in physique, than any—it saved Europe. In the retreat from Mons it delayed overwhelming hordes of the enemy, and at the Marne helped to roll back the invader. But, more than all, the great first battle of Ypres was one of the decisive battles of the world. With unparalleled tenacity and sacrifice it held superior forces for weeks, held them finally. The enemy, superior in numbers and material; our troops short of every artillery and ammunition, with no reserves. Every man was put in—cavalrymen, cooks, drivers, servants —and through the individual efforts of officers and men. iron discipline, dogged determination, the army held out to the last and saved us from disaster. By the end of November France was saved, and Europe; and there was hardly a man left out of the old army. One division wont into battle. 12,000 strong. It came out 3000. Of 400 officers only 50 were left —in one battle. The old army is the army that gathered the spears of the Prussian legions in to its breast, and in perishing saved Europe. No sacrifice in the history of the, world has had greater results and those seven divisions have a unique position in history, and in the annals of the British Army. Then after that came the dreary winter and spring of 1914 and 1915. Most of the old veterans gone — and let me say a word for the Territorials who came to the rescue. Old Army gone, New Army not ready —and somebody had to occupy waterlogged, trenches, somebody had to stand torrents of shot and shell from wellequipped artillery with orders that only two or three shells could bo spared for our guns. Somebody had to do that for months while the New Army was getting ready. The Territorials fought with the ardour of recruits in their first charge, yea, and with the steadiness of veterans in their hundredth fight. And let me say one word here, and I am glad to say it—we owe a debt of gratitude to the man who created that organisation which came to the rescue of the Empire at such a critical hour."