NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 February 1916, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR.

REVIEW BY HIGH COMMISSIONER. Hai'k! I hear the tramp of thousands, And of armed men the hum; Eo! a nation's hosts have gatheredl Round the quick, alarming drum,. Saying, '"Come, Freemen, come! Ere your heritage be wasted," said the quick, alarming drum. I quote these stirring lines from Bret Harte's poem, "The Reveille," at the outset of this article because they seem to me to express—or ,at least, to indicatein a measured and picturesque phrase the spirit which animated the people of New Zealand when they, through their Parliamentary representatives, approved the adoption of the principle of compulsory military training throughout the Dominion. This principle was embodied in a measure entitled the Defence Act, which was carried by Sir Joseph Ward's Ministry in 1909, and a beginning was made to put it into force in 1912, whilst I was Prime Minister. Before entering into an explanation of the leading provisions of the Act, and instancing the remarkable effects its operation lias had upon the physical and moral development of the youth and manhood of the country, I desire to indicate, as briefly,as possible, the causes which induced the Dominion to adopt a policy so foreign to that which is traditional in the Motherland. And, in doing this, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I am taking no sides in the controversy which is now raging in Great Britain as to the necessity or advisability of abandoning voluntaryism for conscription. But I may say at once that the New Zealand system is not conscription in the sense that it is understood in France and Germany. It is a plan—a well-devised, carefully-tliought-out plan for enabling the qualify themselves for • the defence of their hearths and homes, their kith and kin, should emergency arise.. The. essential spirit of the Act is ''defence, not defiance." Tt may he said that the realisation of the necessity of some such measure had its inception during the "Black Week of Colenso," in the Boer War, when the British Army seemed to be threateend, not only with defeat, but disgrace and disaster. New Zealand, it will be remembered, sent a rapidly-organised contingent to South Africa, and, the services these men rendered were warmly and handsomely acknowledged hv that brilliant soldier, the late Field-Marshal Earl Roberts. When that war had been brought to a successful, if not a glorious conclusion, and our gallant lads had returned to their own hills and dales to resume peaceful avocations, our most far-seeing, thoughtful politicians and publicists began to consider what might or would happen to New Zealand if the Motherland should become involved in a great European war, and be .no longer able to extend sufficiently the aegis of her protecting shield—her incomparable Navy—to the outposts of Empire. Gradually the conviction grew —and great ideas usually grow slowly, and take a long while to grip the intelligence and stir the imagination of the public—that the position of the country would bo an exceedingly perilous one if the Motherland were compelled to withdraw the protection of the Australasian Squadron, and leave us to defend ourselves in case of attack. Gradually we realised that in such an event our fair country might or would be at the mercy of a victorious foreign foe. and that wo might, if defenceless, be brought under the dominion of a Power alien to ourselves in all that we Britishers hold most priceless.

• Great Britain's Navy lias demonstrated its supremacy in a manner that lia« exceeded all expectations, but how could we foresee that there might not ho a combination of European or other Po'.vor s that would tax its resources to the utmost? Slowly but surely' the idea gained ground in the minds of Xew Zealandors that the time had arrived for them to be prepared and to prepare themselves for self-defence. It was incumbent on their manhood to do so. and not he dependent upon the Motherland. They realised, as vividly as did our brothers in Australia, that the British Kmpire is not oomnaet. like that of German v. but is far-flung over the seven seas. They realised, too, the immensity of her frontiers, extending over thousands of miles, which in the case of a great war, it would be absolutely impossible for her. with a comparatively small and almost insignificant standing army—as compared with those of European and Asiatic countries —to defend successfully, no matter how efficient that army might he for its numbers. Further, they realised the quiet, stealthy, but unmistakable preparations whieli Germany was making for a campaign on a large stale. The machinations and intrignes of Continental diplomacy, with all its unseruptilousness. mendacity and deceptions, were almost unknown to us, for we were not then, on such subjects, in the confidence of Downing Street. But reading between the lines, it was not difficult to foresee and even predict that, sooner or later, an immense black walr-cloud would burst over Europe, that no one could foretell bow far the Motherland might be affected by the tempest of war. Considering how radical was the departure from British traditions, there was singularly little opposition to the measure when introduced by the. Ministry. More opposition was experienced when the Act was put into force a few years later . An insignificant minority worked against the Act on conscientious scruples and for other reasons—seme half-dozen even left the country rather than submit to compulsory military training—but to the everlasting credit and honor of our lads—and lasses.' too—be it said, the overwhelming majority of them, not only cheerfully, but enthusiastically, entered upon their military duties, even at the expense of considerable .personal sacrifice to themselves and families. And, after all, in the majority of cases, the sacrifice of time for training is not great, while the physical and moral benefits arc. All male inhabitants of the Dominion between the ages of seventeen and fifty-five, not exempted, are liable, under an old Act still in force, to serve in the Militia. But the period of training begins at an earlier age. From the age of twelve to the age of fourteen a boy at a primary school performs a certain amount of physical elementary training, though this is not considered military training under the Defence Act. Still, it is a good, wholesome, beneficial preparation. On reaching the age of fourteen the lad is transferred to the senior cadets, and then becomes a member of the military forces. He remains a senior cadet till' he is eighteen, when, if physically fit, he is drafted into the Territorial Force. a Territorial soldier he is liable to be called out at any time for service within the Dominion, On

reaching the age «o£ twenty-five lis is transferred to the Reserve, where he remains till he reaches the age of thirty, when lie is discharged. Now, it may be asked, what have been the practical effects of the Defence Act? Well, in the first place, in the Short space of three years or so, it has been the means of greatly improving thi! physique of our Sew Zealand youth. The military training and discipline—never too rigid—'have done nnieii to improve their bearing and teach them the value of self-restraint and a proper recognition of authority. Again, it has taught them the value of self-reliance and manly independence. It has also given to them a truer conception of Empire, and brought home to their minds the important fact that New Zealand is part and parcel of the greatest Empire the world has ever known. And it has helped to arouse and stimulate that truly Imperial spirit of which some public men talk so glibly, but do so little to develop. Lastly, it has been the direct means of enabling this young Dominion of the Empire to place at the disposal of the Motherland, during the present war, a force of over 39,000 of the youth and flower of her manhood, well trained and fully equipped, to fight for human liberty and civilisation and all that mankind holds dearest against the most terrible menace of military despotism that the world has faced since the days of Napoleon. History is repeating itself, but there will be many additions —stirring, smilslirring additions—to add to the story which Wo shall tell to our children and grandchildren in the days to come. It is a matter of common knowledge that Germany's flagrant and infamous violation of the neutrality of Belgium, and her wanton and wicked disregard of, the rules and observances of civilised warfare, aroused the wrath and indignation of the world. In no country was this Indignation more strongly felt and expressed than in New Zealand. When the news of the atrocities of the German Huns was flashed across the ocean, New Zealandcrs were shocked with anger. Their manhood was shocked, their hearts were aflame with fury. It was difficult—indeed, almost impossible at first—to believe that a nation such as the Germans, credited, as thev were, with all the essentials of the highest civilisation, could have been guilty of such atrocities to helpless women and innocent children; but when the bald, cold, ruthless truth came home, und ■the revolting barbarities of the Huns were proved to the hilt, then every New Zealander ,from the Three Kings to the Bluff, felt that "leap of heart whereby a people rise up to a noble anger's height." I doubt if any event chronicled in history has so fired the imagination and kindled the anger of n people and. indeed, of'the world, as Germany's infamous treatment of Belgium. But this I do know —it fired the heart of New Zeanland, and when it was decided to send an Expeditionary Force to the front to aid Great Britain and her Allies, there was an almost turbulent desire on the part of our youth and manhood to enlist. Long accustomed though they were to the arts of production, and quite unaccustomed to those of destruction, they seemed to realise instinctively that something more than the safety, security and restoration of Belgium was at stake" They felt it was a crisis—an unparalleled crisis—in the world's history. It was Armageddon, suddenly thrust upon us by one who styled himself «the War Lord of Europe, and who, even more ambitious than Napoleon. .aimed at gaining the control of Europe, if not of the world, and certainly wresting from Great !'>:• tain the supremacy and freedom of the ocean. And they foresaw, too, that all those principles of constitutional liberty and governmcrt so inherent in the British character would cro bv the board if the German Kaiser and his emissaries were allowed to obtain .the upper hand. And Belgium's heroic struggle for freedom against an ovenvhelnvng' fne thrilled the heart of New Zealand. Never, pcrhiins. was there a more sfvik ing illustration of the truth of those grand line?, in James Rue-sell Lowell's pceni, "The Present Crisis": When a deed is done for Freedom, through the broad earth's aching breast Runs a thrill of joy prophetic, trembling on from east to west. For mankind are one in spirit ,and an instinct bears along. , Round the earth's electric circle, the swift fla,sh of right or wrong; Whether conscious or unconscious, yet Humanity's vast frame Through its ocean-sundered fibres feels the gush of joy or shame— In the gain or loss of one race, all the rest have equal claim. Thanks to out system of compulsory military training, the Ma c sey Government, with its Defence Minister, the Hon. James Allen, was enabled, in tlie course of a very few weeks, to mobilise and equip a thoroughly trained contingent—horse, foot and artillery, with all the auxiliary forces—of eight thousand men. the pick of our young manhood. Tin's force, under the command ot Major-General Godley, joined the Australian Contingent, and was safely transported across the Indian Ocean to Egypt, where it was wisely decided that they should go into camp and complete their training, and, as the saying is, get hardened up. The men themselves were keen to go direct to the front in the western theatre of war, and fight shoulder to shoulder with their comrades who were doing such magnificent work in France and Flanders.' But the War Office thought it injudicious to bring these men from the semi-tropics to face suddenly the terrible rigors of the ice-bound, snow-covered trenches. Besides, trouble was clearly brewing in the Near East. Turkey,' forgetful oi all she owed to Great Britain, was obviously under German influence, and preparing to throw in her lot with the Central Powers. Anticipating events somewhat. I may here interpolate the remark that this first contingent of eight thousand men was followed by several others, until, as already mentioned, the total number that lias sailed from New Zealand reached thirty thousand. Other contingents;, whose strength it would lie inadvisable to indicate, are getting ready to follow their gallant comrades, for in New Zealand there is a fixed resolve to see tliis world-war through to a successful issue. The New Zealand Expeditionary Force is in camp near Cairo, under the shadow of the Pyramids, where a century or so ago the great Napoleon had measured swords with the Mamelukes. During my visit to Egypt it was gratifying to witness the splendid impression our men made on General Sir John Maxwell and General Sir William Birdwood. Sir John Maxwell admired their fine physique and martial bearing, and declared that no finer soldiers could be found on the face of God's earth. Sir William Birdwood said how proud he was to command such men. Like the proverbial Irishman, they were all "spoiling for n fight." It was not long before their desire was gratified, for they played their part in repulsing the abortive at'

tempt of the Turks to destroy the Suez Canal. It was their baptism of fire, and they emerged well from the ordeal, maintaining with credit the lighting traditions ot the race from which they sprang. But a greater, sterner ordeal awaited •them. The Dardanelles Expeditionary Force was organised, and the Australian Contingent, as well as that of New Zealand, was placed under the command of <y.u»t gallant and capable .=oldier, Lieutenant-General Blrdwood, whom wc admire and trust. The story oi that wonderful landing at Gaba Tepo and else.vhere on the Gallipoli Peninsula is so fresh in the public memory that it Is unnecessary foi me to do more thaii, allude to it. But this 1 may add: When the full story of that exploit is told, it will be found to rank among the foremost of the most gallant brilliant achievements of British arms. I have seen photographs of the elitl's our, men had to scale in the face of a withering, devastating fire from a concealed enemy. These cliffs, between four and five hundred feet in height, are almost perpendicular, and' it almost nasses comprehension how human beings could have ascended them. A seaman w'ho was on one of the warships that covered the landing of our troops said to me: "We sailors think we know a bit about cjimbing, but how those boys got up those cliffs is a marvel. They seemed to have the climbing powers of a cat and a '"O'lkev combined." Referring to the fighting powers of our men, he paid them this curious compliment: "They arc a cross between a British bulldog and a Tastnanian devil."

Fighting side by side with them now are a number of Maoris—most chivalrous of all the native races —and I have heard some soul-stirring 9tories of the gallantry they have displayed on many occasions. During the last few months it has been my somewhat painful duty—yet, in a sense, a proud privilege—to visit many hundreds of our wounded who have been invalided home to this country. I have heard their simple, unadorned narratives, told with manly modesty, of what they went through. While the sight of their maimed limbs and the knowledge of their sufferings brought a sob to the throat, the story of their •heroism raised a song in the heart. When that story is told by a more graphic pen than mine, the heart of the Empire will thrill with pride. It will become one of the most brilliant pages in our history. One fact has impressed me greatly. Despite all the exceptional nature of the difficulties and dangers they have had to face and surmount, I have found these men confident of our ability to "win through" with sufficient support. The casualty list is a heavy, an appalling, one. but this does not dishearten them. Their, great desire js to get their discharge from hospital and rejoin their comrades at the front.- They are sure of victory. As one man, the son of a prominent New Zealand public man, serving as a private, said to me, quoting Lewis Morris— Be of good cheer, 'tis not for long; He conquers who awaits the end. On Sunday, October 17, volunteers were cajled to return to Gallipoli, and every New Zealander present responded. As the officer who told me the story remarked: ''There were no 'cold tcet' among the New Zcalanders."' This paper would b e incomplete if mention were not made of the supporj given by New Zealandcrs in money and kind to those in the Old Country and on the Continent who require help. A sum of fully half a million sterling has been subscribed by the people of New Zealand, nnd large quantities of foodstuff-; and clothing have been received from the Dominion. A reference to the wprk of the New Zealand War Contingent Association should not be omitted.' At the beginning of the war the Association was formed in order to prepare comforts for those about to take part in the campaigns, and to make provision for the wounded. Later, a military hospital was established at Walton-oii-f hames, where presently .100 of our soldiers will .be accommodated. The l)iiildinsrs»aml surroundings are all that could be desirei e:i<l the staff is excellent, so that ou'i men will be well looked after. The or-gani-ation of the Association is perfect, l-'.iirnest men and women have formed themselves into committees and sub-com-mittees, and members visit the thousands of wounded New Zealsnders in the Old Land, and see that the soldiers' wants are carefully and promptly supplied. Tn addition, amusements tijid entertainments are provided. Mr. C. Knight, of Regent's Park, has very kindly lent his beautiful home at Brighton, and fitted it up as a convalescent home for our officers, and he is Hearing the cost of maintaining it. I Other convalescent homes have been! provided by.our friends in this conn-' try. I I cannot speak too appreciatively of the great kindness that the people of England are everywhere shnwi'v- tn our ii'.en, and. indeed, to all r- , , n \. 'tiers who are taking p;:V \ ■-.,, c i,,. fence of the Empire. T ■ ■ kindness and consideration are beyond :•.!] praise. Tt seems to me that this war had to come. The hearts and pnurajm of the men and women of our Empire were never grander than now. All that is required to give effect to that splendid «pirit is capable leadership. With leadership a nd organisation there is noshing that our men cannot achieve. •'Jut never again must this nation allow itself to he lulled into that fatal condition of indifference which has so long been permitted to prevail. Constant vigilance is still the price that must be jiaid for liberty, and that price has not liten paid by us. Events clearlv indicate that w P are at the close (if one political era and near the dawn of another. Great results will follow if the problems of Empire are taken in band nnd capably dealt with. Meantime the mingling this war has brought about of tilt' hardy SOUS of tile pioneers of civil'sation and Empire in the South and West with those brave lads of the bulldo" breed of the North will create a fellowship such as never could have been brought into existence by any other means. To conclude. Out of evil good often comes. I believe this world-war lias done more to consolidate the British sympathy and the ''crimson thread of Empire, and strengthen the bond of ' : " ' than any nower under heaven could have done. We are being purged with fire, but I believe—indeed. I am convinced—that we and our noble Allies- will emerge, from, tjie ordeal better men and a stronger race, Only we must b? of good courage and of steadfast resolution, sustained by the conviction that we and our Allies.are righting in a just and righteous cause, and for all that is best for the highest, interests, not only of ur day and generation, but of nosterity. We must fight to ensure a nr-ace that shall be more enduring than bronze.—Sir Thomas Mackenzize, in the, ' JSs4§9- r Mftgaijae.