The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1915. THE TREK OF THE COWARDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1915. THE TREK OF THE COWARDS.

In every country there are people of all sorta and conditions, and it is in times of national stress that the good, lad, and indifferent are in a large measure ' winnowed and sifted. It is then tliat the brave of heart and the craven become separated by a plain line of demarcation the former rising to the heights of patriotic sacrifice, while the latter sink into the murky depths of dishonor and ignominy. There can be no sight so painful and revolting in the present critical hours as that witnessed at the Wellington wharf on Thursday, when a batch of some fifty sturdy men departed by the 'Frisco boat for America in order to avoid enlistment. The mere thought that there- was even one eligible male in New Zealand so degenerate as to take flight when his services are sorely needed for the highest arid best of all causes is unpleasant, hut to find a batch of such cowards skulking away to avoid their manifest duty and responsibilities fills all right minded people with shame. One would think that the glowing tribute of praise' showered upon New Zealand's heroes at the front would have proved a sufficient stimulant to every man in the Dominion i to at least offer to join the ranks of [ those who have secured for this country

undying' tame in the military annals. To our shame we have to admit that there are those who could not only remain unmoved at the glorious exploits of their fellow countrymen, but could callously and intentionally crawl away for shelter at a time when Brength and manhood are all that is wanted to achieve, that victory on which the very existence of their country depends. It is the irony of fate that New Zealand, which has been won and held by the indomitable courage and resourcefulness of our sturdy pioneers, should be disgraced by the presence of such craven hearted beings as those who have just left her shores. We are well rid of (hem, hut there is still the dutfy of preventing this rofc spreading, for there is always the danger of ;i bad example being followed. The Premier has let fail some remarks as to requiring men eligible for military service and desiring to depart for abroad being under the obligation of procuring passports. At first sight the suggestion seems workable, but it is hardly likely to be effective. Some more drastic means seems to be necessary, not to prevent such men going, but to brand them with the stamp of infamy that their cowardly conduct deserves. It is Biieh beings—we cannot call them men—who would thrust women aside when getting irfto boats leaving a sinking ship. They live a life of selfishness, frequently posing aa blustering bullies. . They know but one law—that of being a law unto themselves, and their true character is only discovered when they are called upon to prove their manhood, and for the lack of it skulk away life pariahs till the danger is over. There is no room for such degraded humanity in New Zealand, and every care should be taken to bar their return here for all time. Had they lived in earlier ages they would have been branded so that wherever they went their infamy would be known. They are not even wortliy of the dubious distinction of having their names placed on a roll of dishonor, but if there are any others of the same foul breed left in the Dominion it would be well for them to undergo a sufficiently wholesome discipline that would convert them into men who have been brought to realise that every citizen of a country has his duties to perform as well a3 his privileges to enjoy. If the scorn and contempt of their fellow men is not sufficient to reform these selfish ingrates then the State should not hesitate to deal with them in such a way as will be effective, so as to deter others from the same fate.