CORRESPONDENCE. OUR BOYS AT THE FRONT-AND REAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 1 May 1915, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR BOYS AT THE FRONT-AND REAR.

To the Editor. Sir,—Every patriotic Britisher must have felt a thrill of pride when reading of the thanks of the Imperial Government for the services rendered to the Empire by our hoys at the front. We do not as yet know the details of their services or at what cost they were rendered, but we do know that they have nobly done the duty they went to do, and shown to the world that they are no whit behind the other colonies in love for the Empire or devotion to its service. In a few days we shall probably hear more and know the names of those who have laid down their lives at their country's call. To the relations and friends of those our sympathy will go out, and though that cannot assuage the natural grief they will feel, yet their sad hearts may swell with pride when they think of the cause in which they have fallen. "For how can man die better than facing fearful odds for the ashes of his Fathers and the Altars of his Gods?" Their names will be inscribed on the roll of honor to be held in lasting remembrance. With what pride, too, should the parents read the names of those other young fellows who appeared before the Magistrate yesterday for not attending their drills as territorials, and what an example they set (?) Mr. Massey, in his speech in Wellington yesterday, expressed his conviction that if another 25,000 men were wanted they would bo forthcoming, but not if he relies on this type. The report says the Magistrate made some plain remarks. It is a great pity he could not do more and inflict heavier penalties. These young fellows, most of whom are of an age "when they might be at the front, may, perhaps, be excused for not being there. Perhaps they, or some of them, are physically unfit, or there may be otliT and sufficient reasons, but no exen should be accepted for not after-din;; the drills.

When the country is engaged in a life and death struggle with an unscrupulous foe, as it is at present, such slackness and laziness is absolutely unforgiveablc. There should be a roll of dishonor started as well as one of honor, ■and it might well be headed by the names of those appearing in your paper. Have these young fellows ever thought what would happen to them and their mothers and sisters in the event (by no means improbable at one time and not impossible now) of a German contingent landing on our shores? Let what has happened in France and Belgium inform them. I extract the following from scores of, nay hundreds of cases, reported in the official account issued by the French Government:—"ln the village of Corbeck-Lee on Wednesday, August 10, a woman aged 22 (whose husband was with the army) and some of, her relations were surprised by a band of German soldiers. The persons who were with her were locked up in an empty house, while she was dragged into another cottage and raped by five soldiers successively. In the same place on August 20 German soldiers fetched from their house a young girl about 16 years of age and her parents. They conducted them to a small deserted house, and while some held back the parents others forced the house, and, finding the cellar open, forced the girl to drink. They then brought her on to the lawn in front of the house and raped her successively. Finally they stabbed her on the breast with their bayonets. When abandoned after these abominable deeds in view of the gravity of her condition, she received extreme unction and was afterwards taken to the hospital, though her life was despaired of." I hope, sir, that you, with more power of language than I have, will lash these defaulters into some sense of shame for their conduct, and if they are again brought before the authorities I hope a penalty that they will really feel will be impos*ed on them, not a paltry amount like 10s and costs.—l am, etc.,