FOLLOW THE LEAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1915, Page 6

FOLLOW THE LEAD.

EXAMPLE OF DOMINION. - POINTED TO IN ENGLAND. "The praise 9 of the Dominions, and particularly of New Zealand, were being sung wherever we travelled in England. At the great recruiting meetings in London and elsewhere the insistent note was 'follow the lead of the colonials.'"

The foregoing statement was made on his return by the Makura on Monday, says the Star, by Mr. Charles Bagley, a woi-known resident of Auckland, who left over a year and a-half ago on a trip to England and the Continent. Mr. Bagley was just commencing his travels in Europe, accompanied by his wife and daughter, when Germany precipitated the biggest war in history. At that particular time they were in Norway. "We were fortunate in having a passport from New Zealand," said Mr. Bagley, "for it has always been respected. If' there was one pleasing feature in our experiences more than another, it was that we came from the Dominion."

Commenting 011 the war in general, Mr. Bagley said that whilst agreeing with the Government in regard to the wisdom of preventing young men of military age leaving the country, he was very sorry it had to be done. Perhaps, after all, it would be better to have conscription. The.old sentiment of "one volunteer being better than three pressed men," was, in his opinion, all moonshine. "Where did. we get our men in the days of Trafalgar, the Nile, etc?" asked Mr. Bagley. "Were tlkey all volunteers? No. Many of them were driven on board the ships, which built the Empire with the gun and (word. Did they not do their duty? Ym, and lam sure Britishers will ever do their duty." Perhaps the most notable sight in connection with the war, Mr. Bagley thought was in Marseilles. Every second man was a soldier, either going to the front or returning wounded, and the majority of the women wtre in mourning. It was a sad sight, liut so was the whole dreadful business «1 war,