CAPTAIN T. E. Y. SEDDON IN AMERICA.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 August 1918, Page 6

CAPTAIN T. E. Y. SEDDON IN AMERICA.

SOME INTERESTING EXPERIX ’ ences. (From' Wellington Correspondent.) Captain T. E, Y. Seddon, M.P., who wen t to the United States some monts ago as a member of the British Military Mission, certainly has “made good’ among our American Allies. He has been visiting important people, appearing at public gatherings and addressing meetings of all kinds —meetings of shipyard workers, Red Cross members, sch'ool girls, business men and war loan subscribers. The newspapers have given him much attention and it is interesting to notice that many of them have mentioned his relationship to New Zealand’s great Premier. The labour and social legislation associated with the name of Seddon is regarded with admiration and envy by reformers in the United States and Captain Seddon is giving his native land an extraordinary good advertisement. He has been telling the Americans about New Zealand’s military effort, describing some of the deeds of New Zealand’s sons and acquainting huge audiences with the fact that the Dominion is “a real live country,” with a will and a destiny of its own. VISIT TO MR. ROOSEVELT.

One day at the end of June Captain Seddon paid a visit to Mr. Theodore Roosevelt “His first question,” writes Captain Seddon, “was, ‘Are you a relative of Seddon of New Zealand?’ After that we were friends. He talked of our • labour legislation. With clenched fist he declaimed about 'America’s slackness in following our legislative footsteps. He waxed eloquent and talked about arbitration and conciliation, punishment for breach of award; he looked like a tornado wrapped in personality. He is remarkably like his pictures. He inspires all around him. His persc/nality is electric, His laugh is hearty and infectious* He asked who were the governing persons in New Zealand and quickly followed it up with a question whether we had got rid of the Conservative element. I told him of Massey, Ward, and the political parties, and he threw his head back and roared with laughter as he said ‘So you have sufficient Irishmen in New Zealand to rule you!’ Mr. Roosevelt expressed his . regret that America had not entered the war in 1915. He thought the United States should have declared war on Germany without further parley* when the Lusitania was sunk. THE “BIG SPLASH.” After the “big splash” on July 4, when over 100 ships were launched in the United States, Captain Seddon visited the Hog Island shipyards, the largest in the world. He had previously made a speech at the launching of an 8000 ton freighter. The Hog Island yards are turning out two standard ships each week. “The sheets of steel,” says Captain Seddon, “arc sent to the yards from all parts of the States. Millions of bolts and fittings •of all kinds are made elsewhere, and at the works the pants are assembled and the complete ships produced. It is like sending to a tailor the cloth for suits, already cut for the tailor simply to sew together. The yards are a scene of bewildering activity: Steam engine: whistle shirilly and dash about with carloads of steel, armies of workers swarm at their jobs and all day long sounds the rat-tat-tatting of the riveters. The din is ceaseless. Boys stand round forges throwing in the rivets. When the rivets are redhot the youngsters pull them out and throw them from ten to thirty yards to their mates, who hand them to the rivet drivers. The ‘fielding’ is wonderful. The flying piece of red-hot steel is caught every time. These boys arc paid from £5 to £6 a week and they earn it.” A PLEASING TRIBUTE.

Some very nice things are being said of Captain Seddon by his her/ American friends. The New Zealander and Major Lankester, another member of the British Mission, were entertained at dinner by the United States Chamber of Commerce in New York. “We were all of the opinion that we had none of us ever seen more charming personality on his feet than Captain Seddon,” wrote a prominent member of the Chamber afterwards. “He speaks fluently and-to the point, and is exactly the man for such a gathering of red-blooded men as we had at ■our dinner. His tact, his sense of the fitness of things and his conservative presentation of facts were just what one might expect of a British officer and a gentleman. 'Although I have spent a good deal of time in 'Washington with the representatives of the Allies and in NeW - York as ■well, I have never attended a more interesting dinner nor enjoyed the •.company of any of our visitors quite so well.” Evidently Captain Seddon is doing his important work in quite the right way.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION

ALL OBJECTIVES GAINED. LONDON, August 23. ,Mr Gilmour states: With splendid vigor, the Now Zealanders participated in the general British attack at daylight on the 21st, eastward of Hebuternc, and Commccourt, where for the past four months the New Zealanders had been in close touch with the uneasy enemy. I am unable to learn the actual results on the battlefield, but the New Zealand commander gained all objectives. Two units were engaged. There were very slight casualties —eight in one unit and 30 in , the other. They prisoriered over 200 before the evening. The conditions were ideal for the thrust, which was designed to accelerate the enemy’s retreat. An officer well forward reported early that tile advance might continue for probably some miles. The ground was covered in the mist, which was only dispersed by the sun after the operations had boon completed. 1 The New Zealanders jumped off , from the ruins of Piusseaux, which j patrols penetrated during the past few days. The Germans offered little resistance. They could not see the attackers until within a few yards. I walked a considerable distance during the heat of the day towards Achiot- j Ic-Petit when the English troops were Strongly consolidated. I saw only one New Zealander killed by shell-fire. I spoke to an officer from. Nelson whose men were digging a strong post. Ho explained the case with which the advance was made. Large batches of prisoners were constantly marching back. The total may be many hun- ,

dreds. The New Zealanders were thrilled at the prospect of getting ahead of the old Somme country. Today Loupart Wood appears outlined in the foreground, and it is possible to see Bapaume on the horizon, where probably the Germans are already establishing their main line of defence. Every indication that the enemy, consequent on the Allied gigantic offensive, arc losing spirit, many taking the precaution to reach the defensive line without disaster. The New Zealanders are almost within sight of Flers. Although to-day the New Zealanders took a comparatively small share in the main battle, their entire units are ready for any offensive,