Expeditionary Force

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 71, 13 August 1914, Page 8

Expeditionary Force

an inspiring sight. Tlinoi'S GATIIK" AT WEI.LI \"i ITOX. j By Telegraph.—Press Association. ( Wellington, August 12. t There was 'an inspiring sight in the city streets just before mid-day when ( the advance di;taeihinent of tin; expedi- ( tionarv force marched with full equip inent, accompanied by three hands, j nurses and Held ambulance corps. The ( object, of the march, or when the troops are leaving or their possible destina- j tion are still not to be published, by , request. The Territorials and others enrolled for the second contingent, began to muster to-night at the Drill Hall to lie fitted with kits. LADY ISLINGTON'S OFFER. THE PATRIOTIC FUND RISING. Wellington, Last Night. The Premier has'received a cable from the High Commissioner stating that Lady Islington is prepared to place her London house at the service of Nov- 1 Zealanders for hospital purposes, and was ihersclf prepared to take an active part an Hospital work. (Applaud). In reply to Mr. Wilford in the House of Representatives this evening, the Premier said die would enquire into the position of Danes desiring to join the expeditionary force. The Premier read the usual list of contributions to the patriotic, fund, at the conclusion of which he stated that iiis expectations had been more than realised. He had anticipated that they would have gifts and promises amounting to £IO,OOO daily. As a matter of . fact, thisy had been nearer £IB,OOO, and he quite expected that the fund would rcacih £ 100.000. Sir Joseph Ward made some felicitous remarks upon the offer made by Lady Islington anil upon the appointment of Ix>rd Islington as Under-Secretary for tlie. Colonies. The Premier stated that lie had taken upon himself to cable the Dominion's congratulations to Lord Islington. He also cabled the Dominion's condolences with President Wilson upon tlie death of Mrs. Wilson. CONTINGENTS FAREWELLED. THE MAELIJOKOWiH CONTINGENT. Blenheim, Last Night. The Marlborough contingent of the expeditionary force was farcwelled tonight 'by a great crowd, whir .1 evinced .i furore of enthusiasm. Over £IOOO was subscribed locally to the fund, and many, horses, together with money, are still coming in. The Marlborough Club subscribed 1.1)0 guineas, the licensed victuallers £101), and the Working Men's Club 10!) guineas. PAIHATUA'S RESPONSE. Pahiatua, Last Night. Approximately sitfty infantry in the Pahiatua military district have volunteered for service, ajso fifty mounted men. The Borough Council has passed a resolution of appreciation of the raising of the expeditionary force. The local branch of'the Ambulance Association is taking steps to obtain re-qui-ites for the expeditionary force. THE NEWSPAPERS' DUTY. Christchurob, Last Night. The secretary of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of -New Zealand, whiih comprises the principal city anil countrv newspaper* of the Dominion, says thai the president, Mr P. 'Selig, has despatched the following communication to all members: "Censorship of War News.—ln reference to the request, of the Defence Department not to publish certain information. the president has assured the authorities that they can re!.- upon members of the Association in tliis great , crisis loyally carrying out the requests , made."

A DAY'S PAY. Greymouth. Last Night. At a meeting of civil servants at Greymouth yesterday. Mr. Hewitt. S.M., pre-' siding, it was resolved to contribute one day s pay to the war fund by those receiving up to £3OO a year, and two days' pay for those receiving over that amount. A PROTEST FROM WESTPORT. Westport, Last Night. The chairman of the Westport Harbor Board is being bombarded with protests against the decision of the Marine Department to- extinguish the harbor lights, as being likely to have a detrimental effect oil the trade of the nort. ARTICLES OF BRITISH EXPORT PROHIBITED. Wellington, Last Night. A number of local bouses have received cablegrams from London announcing that the British (lovernnicnt has prohibited the export of all articles of food. Barbeil wire is also prohibited for shipment outside the United Kingdom. WAXMAXI'I WAR FUXD. Wanganui, Last Night. Enthusiasm rail high at a-public meeting in tin- Opera House to-night to consider steps to be taken to raise a war fund. The building was packed, and I'lDC'O was subscribed in the- building. ACTKLAXD KNTIirSTASTrC. Auckland, Last Xight: Auckland's patriotic fund is increasing rapid]-.. Almost cve,rv citizen is responding. Monster street collections arc for to-morrow*. The mobilisation of Auckland's quota

of the expeditionary force continues, and over four hundred officers and men are now under canvas. G ISiiOKX i:'-'. 1 'ON T1 NO EXT. Gishorne, Last Niirht. Six army and navy reservists left for tlie south "by the Viokoia this evening, and were enthusiastically farcwelled. It "is understood that the first section of the Gisbonie contingent to the expeditionary fore. (50 men and horses) will leave for the south on Friday, and an infantry section is expected to leave on Sunday. The citizens' defence commit tee lhas enrolled a large number of men for 1o:al defence, and is endeavoring to provide them with rifles, WAITARA'S CONTRIBUTION'. At. a meeting of the Patriotic. League at Waitara. it \va* decided to institute a system of collating sixpence- a week during the currency of the war. Ladies are being appointed canvassers -for various parts of. the towr> ; and all the houses are to he visited. A letter is to be forwarded to Lady Liverpool, suggesting that such a scheme be placed before other towm. It is helieved its adoption would mean the raising of large regular sums, and would be. better than any special taxation. THE TARANAKI CONTINGENT. A GREAT SEND-OFF. " COMFORTS " DISTRIBUTED. The Coronation Hall last night was crowded with relativcsX and friends of the men who start this morning on the first part of their journey to take part with the British troops in tlie war against German*' and Austria. The numbers of the various organisations which have been working all sorts of ! comforts for the :»en were also present . in good numbers, coin''i:sing the Mayor- : ess' committee, the High School girls, the Victoria League, and the St. Andrew's Guild. Tallies were placed across t the hall and the parcels made tip by the above bodies were placed at inter- , vals thereon so as to facilitate the, transfer of tihe packets to the 35 men ' present, who were lined up a short dis-tance-behind the tables.

In a few well-chosen words AdjutantCaptain McDonnell addressed the. men, notifying that the ladies of New Plymouth wished to present each of them with a few mementoes of their appreciation of their ready response to the call on their services'. The men then proceeded in single file past the tiibles, receiving from the Mayoress a parcel containing cholera belts and liandl-emliicf■ from ilio Victoria League,, a hold-all, containing knife, fork, spo»n, comti. tootih-bmsli in case, shaving soap, silk neck cloth, hiissif. triangular bandage, field dressing, two pairs socks, handkerchief, pipe, tobacco and cigarettes; from tho St. Andrew's Guild, sleeping caps and socks. The High School girls' packets, being duplicates of the contents of the other parcel.-'., were kept back to give to sonic of *.he other men going to the front. His Worship the -Mayor (Mr. .T. E. i Wilson) tilien. addressed- the men. lie said: "You are leaving us in a few hours on the first stage of your journey as part of the force which New Zealand has offered to send to the assistance of Great Britain in the European war. The response which you and other men throughout the Dwniinion have made to the call for volunteers has thoroughly justified the confidence of those in authority that men would come when called for. I need not say that you take with you the very warmest feelings of tihe people, of this town and of the districts from which you have individually come—feelings of admiration for the ready and eager response which you men h'ave made to the call for volunteers, and of pride that, we are able to send away men like you.

"The 'war in which you are going to take part is one in wthieh a man on our side may light with a clear conscience, knowing it to In ;> war into which the Empire lias been forced l>v the enemies of peace, and that- Britain has been forced into it in defence of our honor as a nation after having exhausted every means to prevent a war taking place. ,r \ ou Uiave just received from .the ladies of New Plymouth some little gifts in token of their patriotism to the Empire and their de-ire that the men who are going as our representatives should have some extra comfort while doing their duty. 1 know that you ..-will appreciate (lie gift-, and they' will remind you of the cordial feeling of regard for you as lova! volunteers which ha's prompted their i,|)'er. /■Tn taking your part in this war yon will for the time being become parti of the great British Army whose traditions for hundreds of years past are such as to raise ilie strongest feelings of pride in tile breast of evcrv British subject. \\ e are confident that tile men wile go troai the Dominion will add lustre to those irnditions. That you will liavo hardships to endure you will naturally expect, but we feel no doulit that you will no your dntv wherever you are and uiul• t' all conditions readily and uncomplainingly, and .justify the confidence oi th" Homeland in the loyalty of its dominions and the confidence of the peofde (if your native land ilia I they are sending wortihv men to represent; them. "We hope that We shall hear frequent news of your movements, lie assured that not only your own relatives, nnt everyone will wait anxiously to hear of you, and that we will rejoice when peace is declared and you return airain. "On behalf of the .people of -Vow 'Plymouth, I wish you 'all' Ood-spced and. a safe return." The address was punctuated bv liberal applause, which was verv pronounced at the close. Major 'Fletcher, on behalf of the men. returned thanks for the gifts, and in so doing pointed, out tluit they were very useful, especially the sleeping caps, as ihad been proved' during the 'South African war. and hj« fad great pleasure 111 thanking the ladies for their kindness. Oheers were given for the men. and also for the holies, and a most interesting and impressive fiim-thm v ,- :ls

brought to a dose 'by the singing of % viuvsis of the National Anthem. Til K COST IXOI'NT ICRS. The following are the members of the A Company 'S - ''-"' Plymouth) who passed for service:— ffm, C. Talbot. R. 11. Bail}'. ' A. W. Mason. T. S. Crompton, J. C'lafTwy. R. T. Hancock. F. VV. Grimmer A. 0. Jennings. It. E. Hayden. K. Mam-it. A. Fowler. T. H. Hudson. F. Throsscll. F. A. Shirley. 0. Crone. W. P. Okey. W. T. Gordon. D. S. Wilson. ■C. A. Rogers. H. L. Brcr.nam .T. Grey. H. Y. McGu'Uev S. M. Okey. A. R. F. Harding. •T. IT. Gilruore. .T. R. Cargo. ' I Tj. P. Sole. I N. C. Hardin". W. L. M'Murray. E. R. Lowe. H. B. Morsliead. W. F. Southam. Win. R. Surgenor Reginald .T. Hill. Scrgt.-Major 0. ,T> Hawkins. Gordon W. Turnbull. B COMPANY (ITawera and Patea), Jas. A. Pettigrew. Geo. V. llanr.a. Walter -T. Raueli. •Tolm Robert Reid. Frederick William Locker. Alfred Duffell. das. Muir. Allan R. Squire. Q.M.-Sergt. A. C. Bernard. Corporal M, W. MuUey. Sergt.-Ttugler 11. M. Parringtoß Jacob R. Meller. Frank j. Sage. Sergt. L. W. Bishop. Sergt. E. 0. Smyth. Corporal G. M. Townsend. Wm. Grant. Hedley C. Arthur. Peter Rasmussen. Thos. H. Trask. Wm. G. Patten. Coo. Walker. O.R. Sergt. X. A. Arthur. ■Wm. H. Tanner. Tn all. 01 Territorials from the 11th Regiment will leave New Plvmoatih by to-day's mail train for Pahne.r'ston North. Regimental-Sergeant McOlade goes with them.

A ladies' committee at TTawera, headed by Miss Harrison, of the Bible-in-Schools League, will provide a hundred lunches in separate, packages for the "bovs" 011 the train this morning. This is a tiiumfrlitfnl act which will doubtless be fully appreciated. The lunches will "come aboard" at ITawera. All Territorials of A Company are notified that they must hand in the whole of their uniforms and grr:t coats at the old Drill Hall, New Plymouth, at 7.30 to-night. It is suggested that the Central, Fit/, roy and West End school contributions be ''pooled" in order to purchase a charger for the New Zealand expeditionary force. .Should tliia'be'accomplished. tlie further suggestion is made that the trooper receiving the horse be photographed in the saddle, and copies 'of the photograph sent to the contributing schools. A suggestion was made recent!'.- that fruit would lie very acceptable to the boys ou title train journey Air. R. Ellis collected the sum ®of £2 4s arouijd towh yesterday and purchased five eases of apples and oranges, which have heen handed over to the oflicer-in-cliarge. and should prove -a welcome addition pi the menu on the train journev. It is anticipated that there will be a large crowd at the New Plymouth railway station to see the men off this morning. The band will probably lend tone to the departure. A public meeting s to lie held tiiis N evening at Tfawera to consider the formation of a mounted corps for national service. It is worth nothing that quite a number of Territorials who have been haled before the court? for irregular and insufficient, attendances at parades are among the volunteers for active service. Civilians desirous of serving oversea* are now reporting themselves to the local defence authorities. They will, after passing the necessary tests, proceed to the Palmerston concentration camp early next week. The officers will go to Palmerston next, week. TRAIXIXO OF CITIZENS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Tu vour issue' yesterday mum-' iug vou included a cablegram from Londo linder recent date stating that ''business men in London had deccided to utilise the spare time of Londoners to slnd\ the rudiments i f warfare and the u«e of firearms, on the sarnie lines as til,. Trish volunteers." I venture to suggest thai this idea might readily be adopted here, and regular nights for instruction beset aside, with an occasional Saturday afternoon. There are manv men in the town, fresh and active, who have been in past years officer,-, o- lion-com- , missioned officers in the volunteers or Territorials who sliruld be only ton ready to devote some time to preparation for a possible emergency; while there should be any amount i f materia! suitable to make no an additional two or three companies on war strength. 1 trust this may set the ball rolling, and si'ine with more experience than invse!! take the scheme in hand to carry it to a successful issue.- -Yours, etc., it. xmi.LE UKy.vri). Dawson Street, Xe\(- Plvmou.h.