The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1916. HOW THE DOMINIONS ARE HELPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1916. HOW THE DOMINIONS ARE HELPING.

Barely has such a splendid tribute, of praise been paid to any body of troops engaged in conflict with the enemy as that which appears in this morning's cables from the pen of that, very vivid war correspondent, Mr. Philip Gibbs. In the recent advance by the British on the West front the Canadians and New Zealanders were given most important parts, and the way in which these gallant and intrepid troops accomplished their work, in the face of a powerful and desperate resistance by the Germans, places them hi tin forefront of fighters. They have proved once more that the sons of the Empire in the far-distant Dominions are worthy foemen of the boasted invincible German armies. It will 'bo seen that while doing justice to the magnificent prowess of the Canadians in the capture of Courcelette, Mr. Gibbs devotes the major part of his thrilling narrative to recording the details of the New Zeaianders' fighting powers and their bravery in the terrible ordeal from which they emerged the masters of the vanquished Germans. Every word of this i'ivid description will be read with the deepest interest and the utmost pride. Possibly the incident which will most forcibly hold the reader's attention will be that fateful moment when the New Zealanders considered they were doomed, but yet were full of determination, only awaiting to be called into action by the gallant Canterbury captain, whose magnificent rally led our men to a viotory that will- ever redound to their honor. It was the old spirit of the football field, snatching victory when defeat seemed certain,, but not recognising the possibility of a reverse while there was time and opportunity to win, and the value of a victory under such conditions is immeasurably greater than that 'which follows as a matter of course. The Canadians were heavily punished in the early stages of their advent to the front, when they proved beyond all question equal to the best of Britain's fighting strength. There cannot fail to be aroused a feeling of great gratification that the men from our sister Dominion should have securcd,such a complete and important triumph as the capture of Courcelette. It will be quite pardonable on the part of the people of New Zealand to feel and evince a pride in the success of their sons who went forth from these shores at the call of duty to their King and country. Our highest hopes were centred on their courage and fearlessness, while our chief desire was that they should be of real service to The Cause, and nobly have they fulfilled our most sanguine expectations. At Gallipoli they made a name that will stand in history for all time, but it is on the Somme front that they have crowned this fame with glory by their rout of an enemy bred and born in militarism and possessing all the engines of destruction that modern science can evolve. Not once, but many times, the Germans have sneered at the Empire's overseas forces, so that they may well have expected rio consideration from our boys, and that probably accounts for the fear which overcame the Kaiser's men when, the New Zeahmdcrs advanced with the bayonet to put these Botches to flight who were not otherwise accounted for. Mr. Gibbs' report speaks for itself in such glowing terms that it should stand as a record of the value of the Dominions' help to the Motherland in tne time of her dire need, and as an evidence that the greatness of the Empire is not likely to decline while she turns out such ' sons. We may look with all the greater confidence to the future in consequence of their deeds of might and valor,