THE EMPIRE'S CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1915, Page 12 (Supplement)

THE EMPIRE'S CRISIS.

AND NEED FOR MEN. ■ I Eloquent appeals were made in two speeches at the New Zealand Club luncheon on Tuesday at Wellington for every man to do his duty in this present national crisis. The luncheon wa3 tendered to Captain Donald Sinison, a New i Zealand oflicer who has for years occu-1 pied a prominent position in Johannes-1 burg, but who is now in New Zealand; recovering from the effects of fighting in Gallipoli; and Captain Cross, of Wellington College, who spent fourteen weeks in the trenches at the same front, Captain Simson delivered a striking speech at Riccarton racecourse on Saturday, last, and he made some reference to this yesterday. Mr. R, H. Webb presided, and there was a large attendance. After the National Anthem had been sunk, Mr Webb called on the guests to address the gathering. Captain Cross said that lie desired to impress, on everyone how badly the needed men at the .Dardanelles. There was plenty of equipment there, but they wanted nien. For the first four months there the men >put in solid hard work, and there was none of the romance of war. Men came out of the trenches after 4S hours' work, to go on digging, digging, digging. The men were absolutely done, because they had not enough men to give relief. With the normal number of men, eight hours on and eight off should be given, but many of the men had 48 hours in the trenches without a wink of sleep. They came out like drunken men, with their eyes bloodshot and popping out of their heads. The further the ranks got down below strength the harder was it on the rest. If the people of Wellington could only realise how badly reinforcements were needed there would be plenty of volunteers—volunteers they wanted "and not pressed men. (Applause). There was plenty of growling at the front, for that was a soldier's privilege, but there was no whining. Acts of devotion were going on day after day in the trenches—a man thought nothing 0 f risking his life for his chum, br giving up his comforts to a sick comrade. Of course it wa& not all grimness. When they were living on the hrink of eternity any old thing raised a laugh. (Applause.) SPORTING PEOPLE AND THE CRISIS.

Captain Simson, in addressing the members, said that he fully appreciated the honor bestowed on him. He was not going to give any war talk—Captain Cross had given some, and if they were the only remarks put in front of a New Zealand audience they fully justified his (the speaker's) "extraordinary action" at a recent date. (Loud applause). The speaker went on to deal with Empire matters. He had not, he said, been told what to talk about—he had been accused of abusing hospitality, and he dicj not want to abuse the hospitality of the New Zealand Club. When he could be shown where he had done wrong he would apologise, but where it was not shown that he was wrong he felt he was doing an Empire duty. Referring to his action on Saturday, he said he made the appeal because he felt that the people in New Zealand, especially the sporting people, had n»t fully recognised the national crisis through which we were passing. He was still of the opinion that the majority of what was said would do good. He wanted it thoroughly understood that in appearing in public as an officer he was not cnticis!ng tne defence Department, nor the Government. There was no more loyal supporter, and nobody who approved more, of the method of training and encampments as carried out under existing circumstances than he did. (Applause).

A FAILURE IN DUTY. This was an extraordinary war, a war without parallel. The army of the past, the "Tommy Atkins" Army of professional seldiers, had gone. To-day only the remnants of that army were in existe*ce. That army had gone in to fight our battle, and most of the men had either been killed or wounded. What had taken the place of that army? he asked. The civilian of eighteen mfonths ago, and the civilian of yesterday. He was the man who. throughout the Empire, was backing up that remnant of the professional army. When they .-e----turned those men again would be civilians. Men were returning from the firing line, members of Parliament were coming back for furloughs, and were going on the public platform, to discuss the war. That was not (he duty of soldiers, but it was necessaiy because the men of the Empire had failed in theil duty. It was because recruiting all over was slackening off that the returned soldier had to make his appeal for recruits.

Captain Simson went on to deal with some of the possible problems which would arise out of the war. He asked what was going to be the result of the tens of thousands of soldiers who had fought returning to civil life? There were many problems connected with the war, and he made the remarks in order to let older heads than his think it over. What was to be the effect of the war on the returned soldiers? Their temperaments and political ideas would be changed by the lives they had been leading. He put himself forward as an example of the effect the war had on some people. He considered he was justified in taking the action he had, because he felt the time had arrived for him to do so.

EMPLOYING COLORED TROOPS. There were other problems that he would like to discuss, such as the color problem and the employment of colored •troops on our behalf. In New Zealand tlie subject was so far aAvay that not much thought was given to it, but in Africa it was more realised. They had to consider, if they used colored troops, South African or Japanese, to fight for the freedom of the British Empire, liow were they going to deny them full citizenship afterwards? Then there was the question of what monetary recompense should Bo given to the soldiers. The pension scheme was one they had discussed, and one the Government had told them could be altered as the need arose. It was move the commercial community to decide and to tell the Government what they were prepared to authorise them to pay. "You have," said Captain Simson, "to say to what extent you arc prepared to give your world's goods to back up the men who have done the job for you." The question arose as to whether the soldier was not entitled to a share of what he had protected. . In conclusion, Captain Simson said that he had started to do what be considered his duty, and he was going to continue to discuss these problems, with a view to creating an interest in the war in New Zealand, and to assist recruiting, provided, of course, that the authorities did not find more useful work for him to do. He decided to do this as his conscience dictated, and as a duty to his God and King. (Loud applause.) A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers.