SCOTLAND’S STORY.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 August 1919, Page 3

SCOTLAND’S STORY.

A LONG, PROUD RECORD. “I have been asked to write something of Scotland’s vachiovement in the war, and I cannot but comply. I hesitate because the story is so noble, but it is the nobilityéiof the story that compels me,” writes Colonel John Bu--chan (author of Nelson’s history of the war, “Grreennlantle."’ etc‘.): ‘in the Glasgow Herald. ~ “Our land has suffered terribly because of her courage. The Flowers of the Forest are a.’ wode away, and scarcely «a. home from the Solway to the Shetlands but mourns its losses. Yet there is a pride, an aching pride, which is the recompense of the anodyne for sorrow. If we can refiect that our sacrifice has not been in vein, that we have most utterly windicated our ancient honour, sand have played a chief part in setting the world free, why then we may count the price with. out bitterness and mourn with a. high heart. V

“We Selotsnmn have always been very conscious of nur past, which dwells with us like a. living memory— Bannockburn and Flodden and Prestonpans are far closer to a Scots boy than Agincourb and Crecy to his English contemporary. Stories like that of Wallace or the heart of Bruce, or the death -of Montrose, are almost :1. personal tradition._ Well, history greater than the world has ever seen has been made before our eyes. We have lived through days which cast the time of the Elizabethans in the shade. If we have been proud «of our land and of our race before, we have :1 thousandfold more reason to be proud of them now. .

“This is written in no boasting spirit. We ‘do not seek to extol ourselves at anyones expense except the enelny’s. In a worthy alliance great deeds go to a common stock, -and the credit of one is the credit oflall. But it is permitted to detach the doings of one, not to make petty comparisons, but to hearten ourselves with a- positive achievement, an indubit-able proof of virtue and vigour. v~],'n such a spirit we can «attempt to “sketch the record of Scotland. gt _,~..; “Let us see how the figures stand. At the beginning.»-‘of Jast year——that is, before the last -Mpili'ful'y Service Act, which I'epl'esented..={dle: last Word of conscription-—th'ere_ were seven and ahalfmiillion men» enrolled in the armed forces of the Crown from every part of the British Empire. Out of that number Scotland had*contributed 620,000. In regard to population, it was practieal'l_v the sil.me- proportion as England, 13 per cen't.——ra~-thigh proportion, when we remember that before the war 10 per cent was "considered even in Germany and Francelas the absolute maximmn. The proportion of Wales was 9.8, that of Ireland 3.8, and that of the overseas Dominions 6.17, though I am told that if‘New. Zealend was taken by herself ller~proport.ioll would be the highest of any, ~ “It is 9 record to be proud of, but T‘=.>m promler still tl,l,::tt _fol' vol'unt:ll‘y I'(‘('."nitir-g Scotlaiicl should be easily first.” ’-r- ~