OUR EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 150, 20 November 1914, Page 4

OUR EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

WORD PICTURE OF THEIR DEPARTURE. SAILED IN THE GREY DAWN. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Objection is now withdrawn to the publication of references to the departure of the expeditionary force, but in view of prohibitions still remaining little can be said about the departure of the troops, except a categorical narrative of the happenings, concerning which the general public are already conversant, though they have not been recorded in print.

The departure of the main expeditionary force was shrouded in mystery up to the last month. The authorities had ordered that no mention of the movements of the war or the troopships should be made. The big, grey-painted ships gathered in the waters of Poneke, however, and other grey monsters of grimmer import appeared. At last, the news spread from mouth to mouth, "They're going to-morrow morning." Already almost all 'he men were aboard the ships, the horses embarked, and all vessels except one, acting as headquarters, were out in the stream, whore, viewed in flip evening from the hills behind the city, i';ey made an imposing spctacle. the last "good-byes" had been said, and many a mother, sister, or sweetheart smiled bravely to hide the tears as she looked across the water to the big, quiet hulls that carried their loved ones, some of whom, perhaps, would not return.

Through the night the Bhips lay out upon the water, as if awaiting a summons. Suddenly, seemingly through the mist-sodden night, a voice has spoken in little staccato perks of sound intelligible and audible to one man seated patiently in a modernised version of the wizard's cave, and the burden of tho voice is "depart." Tiie listening wizard passes the word on to other listeners, and, watchers nround him a,nd in the watery dawn the grey fleet, like huge flocks of migratory birds, slowly awakes to movement and takes its way out, over the quiet waters, past the fog-wreathed surrounding hills, and into the dull grey mists of the ocean.

I Despite the fact that the departure | was unheralded in the usual way, many people seemed to have heard of it, and I various vantage points were occupied by I watching groups, anxious to get the laß*t I glimpse of the departing soldiers. At the Heads several hundred people waited, and as the fleet steamed slowly by in two divisions, cheers were exchanged, and the ships' bands played the National [ Anthem and other airs," including "Tipperary." The forts and men-of-war gravely saluted each other, and the ships as they ncared the open sea gradually manoeuvred into position, making a rave show as they passed. There was much waving of handkerchiefs on shore, and occasionally the voices of the men on the ships "came across the water cheering. As the fleet went down the harbour, several ferry and other boats accompanied them, carrying members of the Government and officials, and a few other farewellers with whom the soldiers exchanged cheers and good wishes. Presently, all too soon for some of the watchers whose hearts were out on the crowded transports, the ships passed the outer handland one by one, and New Zealand had sent this force of her bravest sons on a "long, long way to Tipperary." The expeditionary force had sailed. As the last vessel rounded the Point, and was lost to view, the sun broke through the clouds, flooding the harbour and hills in brightness, and the watchers made their way homeward, gladdened by the thought that after the dark hour of parting shall come the happiness of re-union, when the black fog of war has rolled away.