"Au Revoir."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 73, 15 August 1914, Page 4

"Au Revoir."

TROOPSHIPS LEAVE HIE WHARF. GREAT GATHERING LS WELLINfI- '* TON. DESTINATION STILL SHROUDED IN '. J ' MYSTERY. ay l'.«hor&pi.—i j re»i, Association. ;■ Wellington, Last Night. The first section of New Zealand's; . contribution to the British Empire forces in the war of 11)14 was formally V forewelled ty large crowds at .he Basin ierve la to this af tern con. The adi • co , 1011 of thu expeditionary , iorcc had been waiting ■, n lvtt dinew ' ■ aboard the transports since Wednesday "" for the call to duty at <ome point not disclosed. The call apparently came '*' to-day, for notice was given tliat the troops would parade at 4.30, and' be •addressed by die Governor, Ministers 0 T ■' the Crown, and oJicr prominent men. ' " In the morning the i',inie Minister " and lug colleague visited the troopships ■-.' Mormwai and MoeraW, with General !i: Godlcy, and inspected the men and - quarters. THE FAREWELLS. !£ When final notice came the expedition marched to the Basin Reserve '1 headed by the 3th Regimental Band' ' ■'' Mothers, wives, children and BWeefr hearts kept step, calling farewells ■in case there would be ne further opportunity. At the Basin Reserve the "men formed up in hollow square. The official party consisted of His Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minis- ' ' ter, Sir Joseph Ward, and members at ■' the Cabinet. THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL'S ADDRESS. "AU REVOIR." The Earl of Liverpool addressed the troops as follows:—"It is very little over an hour and a half since I received a telegram saying you have to leave the shores of New Zealand as soon as possible. We have received orders from Home that thj enterprise ' or. which you are going is one of great and urgent Imperial necessity. W'i know that the honor of the Empire an.l ■ of this Dominion will be upheld by every single man' in the force, and we know, in common with every one of our fellow subjects, that you are determined to do your best to show that there is only one Empire, and that we are not going to be trodden on at the dictation of someone who wants'to set up such a supremacy that it "will be absolutely impossible for any other na-. tion of the • world to exist. Leavetakings are always unpleasant l thing*. I have gone through them myself, but I an not going to wish you good-bye. I am going to wish you au revoir, and a speedy and successful is9Je to your expedition. We shall lock forward with the greatest interest to all your doings. We shall watch for- them.'* (Cheers.) THE PRIME MINISTER. The Prime Minister said: "When the Empire calls, it is for the citizens- of the Dominion to respond, amd when the Empiire calls it is for the soldiers of the Dominion to obey. You leave the dio-res of New Zealand in probably a very few hours fromj now. You carry a great responsibility, hut I am quite sure you realise a great privilege has been conferred upon you. That you will do it well I aim confident. It goes " -without saying, and when the war is over and wrongs are. flighted, you will be better men for the experience yon have gained and the discipline to which "■' you will have been subjected. We who stay behind to do the business of the ''' country recognise that you are the first to leav our shores to rush to the as- / sistancc of the Motherland in her hour of need. I know you will keep the flag flying, your face to the foe, and. like His Excellency, I shall not say good-bye,' 'but au revoir. Good luck: • and God be with you till we meet again." SIR JOSEPH WARD. Sir J. Ward (Leader of the Opposition) said: "The .call to arms of the Empire troops is for the purpose of defending Empire interests in a just war. It is for that reason ,that we arc proud to be here to-day to say a word of fareWell to the officers find men who are . to: do battle on behalf not only of New Zealand but the Empire. We place ' the honor of our country in the hands of the officers and men who are about to leave New Zealand. Wherever you' go I am sure you will uphold the high and glorious traditions of the British race and the empire to which we are ' proud to belong. I sincerely hope that before very long we may hear of the winning by the British troops, wherever they may be, of those victories upon sea and land that will help to maintain the British Empire intact, and lso ensure peace for anoth«sr century-\ to come to the whole world." \ MINISTER FOR DEFENCE. The Minister for Defence, the Hon. J. Allen, said. "Colonel Logan, officer? and (men,—Yon go at your Empire's call. The Empire has called upon ;you before, and you have responded, and the response lias been equally good thiß time. You will come back to us, I .-. 'hope, all of you, with evpry honor and glory, and with another tradition added to the list which New Zealand has , bo well begun in the interests of the Empire." The Mayor of Wellington, Mr J. P. Luke, added a few words of encouragement and confidence on behalf cf the citizens of Wellington and the whole ; of the municipalities of New Zealand. „ At the Governor's cat 1 , three lusty cheerß were given for His Majesty the King, and then the troops marched tack to the wharf, and quickly boarded the ships, which, at about sit o'clock, cast off and pw out into the stream. New Zealand had hid good-bye to if* first-contingmt. The ships were still at anchor at a laie hour.