NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 May 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS.

WARM WORDS OP PRAISE,

6'OOK BY LIEUT.-COLONBL WESTON.

Lieut-Colonel Weston. D. 5.0., in his book, "Three Years with the New Zcalanders" (Sherrington), takes, up the tale when he went into camp in New Zealand, in March, 1915, as a captain of a company in the Wellington Battalion, carries it through the Gailipoli landing, the winter in Egypt, the landing in France, Mcssines 1 , and La Bassee, until, put out of action by a shell tat the commencement jof .Jtho big Passchendaeie show in October, 1917. Ho tells a siraightfordward tale of the work and vicissitudes of his company, acords interesting glimpses of men whose names war has inscribed on the roll of fame, and winds up with an estimate of Hio. conduct of the New Zealander in the war and the general effect that the tragic experience has had on him. There is nothing sensational about Colonel Weston's book, nor, as far as we can see, is any new light, thrown on the events that stand out like beacons in the history of the Expeditionary Force. But the record is the first-hand account, written while the events arc still fresh in the writer's memory, and as such it has its value. In the (Concluding chapter are one or two things that we should like to draw attention to. His estimate of the New Zealander as a soldier and a man is highly complimoutary. Briefly, his view may be said to be summed, up in the following sentence: '' Almost jvithout exeepticTi the New Zealander possesses the gift of leadership that enables him to fill the hardest poitiosn in the Britih Army—the man who is of the rank of jrivatc with the •jpn'Mnttncnt of lance-cor-poral." Then rhere is this piece of Criticism, which will jgive risr to some vceling: "I think the padres with the Expeditionary Force Islavi' missed a very wonderful opportunity of influencing the rising generation of the Dominion. I have listened fo a great many clergymen preaching to the soldiers, under various conditions, and one's feelings has very often been of disappointment that they have failed to grasp (he moment of great deeds. A man, and especially a boy, on active service is in a molten Slate. The life seems to bring all the best in him to the surface, and unconsciously he demands still more light and guidance. He is in a condition to receive impressions that will engrave ihemselvcs indelibly on his heart and

v nd what hold dr> they offer? A flow of words that he cannot understand, or that do not interest him. On the other hand, sermons with illustrations from our 'History of Patriotism, Self-sacrifice, Bravery, and Obedience' would do much to improve the moral standard ( f our country in after years. ■'