THE PRIME MINISTER AND SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1917, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER AND SIR JOSEPH WARD.

VISIT TO THE WKSIJiitX Hi ON'J'. rKESEXTATIOX OF RIBANDS FOII GALLANTRY. JOURNEY i'O THE Su.UME iJATTLEFIKLU (From Malcolm Ross, War Correspondent- with the N.Z. Forces in tinField). Northern France. Nov. 4. The flight Hon. W. F. Massev. P.C.. Prime Minister of New Zealand and Sir Joseph Ward, Bart.. Minister of Finance. have just concluded an interesting visit to the Western front. Q® arriving at the headquarters of the corps to which the Now Zealand Force is attached, tliey wfre for two nights and a da;,' the gnscsfs'of the Corps Commanded'. Cri the morning of the day following the!' ar-ival they were present at a'n interesting ceremony of the presentation of ribands representing decoration.*! awarded to New Zealand officers and men for pal laiitry and distinguished services in Hi# campaigns in Gallipoli and in France This ceremony took place in a field a short distance behind the lines at present being held by the New Zealand Infantry. Arriving in motor-curs from coips headquarters on a cold windy day they found the troops drawn ur> in hoilow square. Immediately afterward, the Comn'onder of the army to which tinNew Zcalanders are at present attached arrived, and the ceremony of decoration w.-is proceeded with. As the name of e--li r.-eioient was called lie came up to the Anr.v ('nintu-nHlcr and salute;!. His name a'lii ' ' -'•■f i-.-- 111-1 r- of the act of gallantry or Mi 'ifl ikit '""■ f ovm ed was then wad out. I»v I.;.- ' ' -•••'

Cl.M.f!.. and (lip riband was pinnrd i; his left breast by tlto Commander, veteran, grey-haired soldier who had sera something oi the services of the Nmv Ze;>.lawlers in the South African War. The Commander then shook hands, the. recipient saluted, and then returned to his place. The commanders of the corns and flip division with members of tliair staffs wire also present.

At the conclusion of the presentations the Army Commander briefly address'.d the assembled troops. lie said:—"l have had very great pleasure, in accenting the invitation of the Corps Commander and the Divisional Commander to come here ■this morning and present the ribands "resenting the decorations which his Majesty the Kin? ha? been pleased to award to officers, non-commissioned officers, and men for individual acts o£ gallantry and devotion to duty during a period extending from Oa'llipoli to the present time. I was especial!*- jrlad to come her? this morning because -.o and yon at': bonoriv by the presence of (he Prim'' Minister and the Minuter of Kinauoe u' New Zealand. I am sure it must luivc been nratifyine -1 to tliein to h .ar of such records of gallantry and devotion to duty as have just been read out. Time did not admit of the full records being siven, but I know a great many of them because I have seen them, and I know, and rou know, that there, is not a ,ingle case in which the decoration Ims not been fully earned. And what is more, von and I know that in, a campaign like tlii= only unite a fm.ijl proportion o." the nun who have distinguished themselves nr. able to receive such recognition. And we also know—von belter than I—that many of those who are no longer v.'itb us, and whose loss we all deplore, would, if they had survived, have been present liefe to-day to receive similar decorations to awarded. To those who have been the ribands this morning I would say just this, as I always say under similar circumstances—yo:.' should be justly proud of tlie acts and the services that they commemorate. And T am mute sure that I can speak for yon 'r. saying that you ale still more -proud | .11 this occasion to be the representatives of l'ie >.n'iis which yo.i belong, proud to have •>:-f- :to l»-in>r hr>i>or and distinction io ill" unit* you have served so well. Ido not think any iiio-.' testimony is necessary to tne service, that this division has rondel ed since it took part in this eanipaiffn. But lblieve you have received testimony, writ ten am! oral, from the Conimaiider-in-C'hief of the Armies in -the Field, and from the Commanders of the Army ard of the Corps under whom you have recently served on the Somme, and I believe that testimony was couched in the most, flattering terms. I may tell you that since you came out of the line oir the Somme I have personally seen the Army and the Corps Commanders, an.! that the terms in which they spoke of the work done by his force were so flattering that you- might all be too conceited were I to lepeat them. I congratulate your Commanding Officer, the noncommissioned officers, and men upon the excellent work they have done. Your former Commander, "who is now at the head of the corns, who has been so closely identified with you and to whom you owe so .nuch, must be proud to-day iJ the record that this division has established. We of the Army with which von are now associated, are also proud of those services. Though in the recent fighting you were not with us we have watched with close ii - -rest all you li.ivt done, and we are glad to welcome von back amongst us. T feel .-aire that wheiever you are you will continue to earrv out vour work with the same ianiiit. devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice that have marked so admirably vour rerecent \>portions on the Somme "

At tlic conclusion of this address one of the New Zealand bands struck up n lively march. and the General, with the. recipient? of tlie honors prouped near him. took the salute as the troops marched past. ;

VISIT TO OTHER UNITS/ The Cc-mmnmler of th n Annv haviric tajcen his departure, Mr. Massev and Sir Joseph Ward, aceompandicd by tne corps and. divisional commanders, proceeded l.rwards the front to visit other unit., of the Xew Zealand Force. Motoring ala'/.ir the muddy roadr. tliev at lenffth came to a field marked "Paddock .")(!,*' where men from the Canterbury .ind Pionooi Bat'taliniis wore drawn up. Mr. llassey, ir. la VrVf addms to the former, expressed til. ■■■':-.-i'l'o that it had ffiven Sir JoSf'i'ii "■'•■■■■< avl ii'mself to come fioui the el.':! ''' f woild and find the New Zealand In > heart. He congratulated tin ' did appearance iin.'i after all the trials and tr.irh'e; < H"- !•. -.i come through. He conveyed to tliein t!ie best wishes of their relatives and friends in New Zealand. Their hearts were \vith them in France to-day, and tliey were particularly proud of chc reputation tliey had built up. both m regard to their righting -.qualities aud their qonduet gen

orally. The eer<';iimi\ of the pvesonhtion of ribands fur gallantry and devotion #«» duty that lh-y hid vileae of iltui morning w- ; >s a partai.hn h 111 -. r ;■< .-I : r.'j 0nr■. jll i"> j- c 11; ■ sion. ],(- hoped ih.ii 11 ; -v.-dl.'d c 1 cane to an end and tlaf t,|u'\ win;!-,'-!mv<- !i]l- ..jfi-M-r,- of v-'jh-ulllil!g a,..;, b;:ck to llu'ir rv.rij-v. Sir il; \\*}j i*f| ;ul<!v' , SS(.'i.i V\-:)

i-i-rs. who wen io i-cniniai'.il «f •. furwr Maori incmhoi of iiic X'n-y Ze;i!:i!;il Par-liii»iei-l _ Tie w ,..1 tlsc kcoi. u.fi-m; with winch Alassey and him-f'i ] l: ?,j looked forward to a meeting villi th.Xew Zealand tfooj>« in the field. To thr Maorin he ox;ires:-od the pleasure it ihem all to find them associate so closely with the European trooor in thi war. And he was glad to find that theii old traditions as fighter, were beinq lmnded 011 to-day. The people of botlr races in New Zealand were rh-enTv interested in their doings <ind in die fine performances in this campaign. Theit. was one thing that hoth Mr. Ma.-»ev and himseif were particularly stiaek w-'th, and that wa.; theii cheerfulness. They were helping thcjjr kith and Km accross the seas and their Allies it) this great, struggle to win out for the civili sation of the world. In the meantime he would say to all of them: i: Kia ora, Aroha!"

At oilier parts of the front units frun the different were seen, an-j similar brief speeches were made. were given for Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, and the men seemed just as pleased to see them as they to see the men. In one of these group, wa_ tlio Prime Minister's son, >.iio went thfo.istfl. the strenuous fighting in the recent Sommc advance. At tinges the speeflKS of'the Ministers were pjnetnated with the desultory firing of the ri \;ns along the front. At one point they inspected a I'2-iiifh sun and a fit-Id howitzer battery, passing l through places in which at " iv time they were liab'i tn lie under shell fire. But it was a- Ind d;ie for observation. and the guns wvn quu-.c. Mr. Mas«ey inspected the billets of oome o! the men. and both lie a,<d Sir .Ij ; ep'i Ward clißlued ii.fi an observation post from -.vhielt thev obtair.e,; a oood view of o"n «»H the Oritvin lines. Thev one of t;.Ar--idicrs. Kdil ambulances were also visiter l

' INTO BEj-CiL'M. Burinj' this day they motored through the little bit of. Belgium that i.-: left, and paid a visit to the historic and b.tttered.eity of Ypres. This was to them n revelation of the destriictiveness of mudfrn war. The desolation of Yprcs at tl>o piesent time is a subject to which only nil artist with the fire of senilis could do full justice. The ruins of the Cloth Hall and the Cathedral arc still striking in their broken grandeur, \rhile tho utter desolation of tenartlsss. shattered shops and houses is an impression that can never be obliterated so Ion" as lif. lasts.

AX INFORMAL MEETING. Following the visit to Ypres, the party took tea with the Commander of the" Army, and in the evening thejV met some th.ee or four bundled New Zealand troops in one of the Y.M.G.A. halls. Heiv it., entertainment was in'progress. Both Mr. Mautejr and Sir Joseph Ward recoiled ,i most cordial leeeption from the men, punctuated with the familiar democratic cries for "Bill" and •'Joe." Both the ' Ministers made speeches, and the proceedings, which were shorn of all military formality, were hearty ant ever, jovial. A stranger dropping in might have imagined liimself at a friendly election meeting in New Zealand. Certainly he would never have tlionaht that these cneery soldiers had only recently emerged from the jaws of death and destruction on the battlefield of the Somme.

'•[ aiu delighted to see so many of you hero mitt in such jjood spirits this evening." said Mr. Mtisscv. TTt> added that during the whole of their trip that day they had heard not one single word of complaint. This statement was received with good-natured banter, and with laughter and whistling meant to express incrcd llity. "He's asking for it,' interjected a "Tommy." "I'm fttoo you agree with that statement,' quickly retorted the Prime Minister. And then lie told a story about how on one occasion, when lie was visiting the camp at Trontham a limn calied out to Imu: "IVi you Ining m- 1>oc(», Jlill?" '1 .lie iiim; enjoyed (lie ;:>]■ Iliev know—lion.' bftcei—that the soldicj. however much you mav do for him, is never quite satisfied. Mr. Massey expressed the pleasure it him and Sir Joseph Ward to see things for themselves. No other army, lie sail., was so well fed and so well cared for in regard to its healtV a-, file British Army. Arid he was jr'u-i to find that in spite of the difficulties and dangers they had to face there was not one New Zealander who would say he was sorry for coming. He told their that in all 70,0(10 men had come forlli voluntarily, and he believed they would have no difficulty in keeping up reinforcements. There were, however, some families of shirkers who were taking advantage of the war to make money f<> themselves, but these would be deal I with. As to the British soldier of today, they had evidence now that he wns as good as ever lie was, and had not dp generated. As to the soldiers that eairt from under the Southern Cross, all hr would say .vas that they were as .'-non as the men from the United Kingdom He would not say they wel*e betler—l - would leave it' at that. ITe briefly to;,' the men what New Zealand was doing for them and what it would do for t'l-.-wounded and the dependents of those who had fallen. Those who had joined the Expeditionary Force and who had fought so well had initiated a new cru and had given the. Empire a new lean of life, and they could now look for ward to the time when the gwit eo'i<pii'ny of British nations would be ■ strong as to df'.'-l-'-e For r^U". l :ir l)i defiance to the whole world. (Ci'oer-O. Sir Joseph Want said he was delighted to find so many New Zoalnndcra 11 France doing their duty so nquly. V.< felt very proud*of our country and of its men, and when the war was ci»»„ the* could all be sure of one tiling—a' warm and lovable welcome home In New Zealand to-day«tlie hearts of people were beating in unison wit! theirs. The outcome of the war wool. l be wo leave the Empire one of, if not the most, powerful nations in the world They were determined now to win this war no matter how long it. lasted, and ha hoped A'hon it was all over that tl ey would be in a position to say that there should lie adopted iome system c.f arbitration bv which the great nation? would agree to a pi"">efnl settlement of their dif'eveiir"s or. by a combination, I!3 iinns xv'io wanted wni ' if - to .-iicli n settlement. That was foundation • which the men of the Kmnire were laying down to-day on the battlefield. And the result of their effort would be to reconstruct and regenerate the British Empire. Later on they would help to formulate public opinion in their own country in thai direction. ■ Voluntarily they had raised

five mii!;en men from t!io fSvitisli l\m-r-i:"' 1 tit he]]) their Allii l :' aptiasl" an ah-trn=f-r!iprh'U-t opponent thai ha.i takr-i> i:!' iheir z 1 !:': i 1;iml. 'V all ?h(» had done. riNjJti will he jy. rd iui\v tn "A'e }itv !-■]/<•!• ;i! U;p !..;i !.ix . intiol:: : \v?nt iV.'.n t!:'» Kim/rc. Tlu* - !M ' this ;| i 1 Vr. vNil 'o lii- front 1 ' 'i-M (iicin ,t ivfici- know--1: f.-j.; l (■ i v.'lilit hcen dnm l ;iP(I wliftt .•■■i.-;' '.! i'O (liJiif !i' hj" you rail i.IiItM-f'i io N' - / r ''-'hH i.l»s:f .V.r Mas ••-"V Jilid niy.-clf k hnrU' 1>« allowed to join 11k mil:- \v. will .Jo <f fUwgntei, and a \oiee: "(live him - platoo; ' lollowo;\ !r.- aoovhr. Mr -1 r f laughter;. In i*iish:«ion, he i-.nic.' they luv! all made up their minds to y : n, 'ind that they did not . want ti he comnieneiiia: this war over again, if the did not win iglit cut now tLei: imscrup'iloiis foe wo aid n dH' 'time he ready ..or a s.till 11-t terribhi war Mr. Massey ami himself would he able to ca;v\ back to Nov, Zealand good t ; d;..L!;; of toe valo- and cheerful..e oi theii men in the field. They would reaim feeling prouder ?.n3 hapi-iei and Letter for having .e.i? theia fi},.itin>' for the regeneration of the vorh. ir.d for the. future of En!.'aiid Ki.d New Zeal.ii.d against a nation tlsa.- \i-isaed to ad-e.ncs uader a ef miliL_.jis.ri a..d trntaliti. (Cheers). Av the conclusion of thn meeting there .-.'as an informal liand-shakin,. uiul .hatting between Ministers and thai) frieiids and relatives ho happened to b'.. present, but the time was all toe ■hoit. and the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph lihd to tear themselves ./..ay to be present at a dinner given in thci nonur b;, the General Comnuinding die Ij3vi.Tj'oij. Ihis "as a private t'unct!o!i, ..nd th.ro i.eiv uo sp.;eclu'», but it gave the Minister, the opportunity of meeting lneinbers of the Sratf. Drigaeli.r-. and other .11 fieers :onnected , ith the Xer Zealai d Foree.. in the Field.

ALONG IHE FRONT, liat cvoi.ing tie visitors returned to tin- Tfc-.uhjuartei'.s of the Corp. Com?!!ri!ul(?r.=> anil on the following ony mci.oi'ivi to Ai.dons. On the >,\txy they f'Sii'l » visit fc n unit of MnJ Ke» Zealand forces in another part, of the bat-tle-lino—a unit that Iras bcai- doing e.v .client work vliifs attained t.. sev t wl British divisions. But of thi? ..ior«! anon. Amiens was reached in die ovuiing, and the visitors dined with the staff of the New Zealand Hospital the.'.' —another unit, which, it has! ha i little connection with the New Zealand T'orc", has also been doing splendid woii; for th.. British armies in the field Bi.t ui Jjij. aLo more anon.

THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD Next day om distinguished visitors went b, car from Amiens to the Somme. and utter parsing through the partially ■destroyed town of 'Aloert, vl-tre the great gilded Virgin vtitti the Christ in her outstietelied hands, hangs now head downward from the church ste-ple, they vi'ent aiong the muddy oads to La Boiselle—a, corner of the "Soniiue battlefield in which much blood .'as pour ed oat. La Boiselle, though still within raugu ct tne enemy's guns, is now .. iong way behind the ("ring lino, bat il. is tremendously interesting ~s sho >ing the task the British soldiers ..ere sei agaiiwc strong German positions : n the giv.it. Jul.- offensive. Jn t'n; .ccoitd day, ol the great battle 1 had watched at close jiiartci's that deadly .iglitin.. fo: \Jiis position. The terrible bombardment of the ivillage and the little wood by o.r guns, the heroic ad/ante of oui uOO|i u through the fearful German j.'irrage ivilh, machine guns and .lirapnel and .lig-Ji explosive playing rm them, m.ulj lip -i secne of .tattle grim .aid lenlistic in the extreme. Motoring nualong jk- reformed .'o.cds four montlls afterwards one could .not but inarv.-l at the change. Where, on 'that bright July morning, a Oerman gun poured its death-dealing Jiai) of lea J np an our brave troops, the tie.l Jross flag of a British field ambulance now. drooped in the grey drizzle of a wintry morning. There the British wounded and the German wounded prisoners of war -eceived equal treatment. And now to tliis corner of the great bailiciiehl 'iad come tin; Prime Minister and tli-j Mi lister of /inance of New Zealand, the most distant pay„ of our far-iliing Empire. The mere fact sti'.red tiie 'inagin-ition, *nd >gave "ilie lie direct to Hindenburg's statements about the ineffectiveness of the Somme offensive. These 'ivo Xe<v Zealand visitors, who had done so much /or tlie /Cmpire, were able fo .all; in: challenged through Or mail nosition that, after two years of strenuous lab'ir, was thought impregiunle. They were a;;'/: to walk through the taken 3erman trenche.., to circle t !i,f rim of ono of our enormous mine raters, 'lie blast from which bad smashed into irretrievable ruin a strong point in the German line, ad buried high m heaven Us terrified delenderj. They were able to go down into deep jcrmi.i dug-ouis. from which m.-ichine-giuis. hie moment our b.irage lifted, n .'re taken up once more ir.to the light of day m lope'css endeavor to stay the valorous "nrush uf bravo British infantry. Witb my own eyes 1 had seen these men go to their death—in twos and threes, and in groups—and rKili.-.:d the/i and there that no Onium regiment, ho ./ever famous, and 110 ntac'tiiury on God's earth..however lestruclive, wot.ld stem their idvnnce. Into oiiic-r and more lioi-one depths these de 1.,.-." ,e„ from the land of the .Maori, here iigiuiiig with us. picked their way by Ugh., or torch and flickering caiulls, and were able to see the skeletons of mon who thought they colli 1 r.ever be v,'.,i(-|'.iisl:e9. And, above all, t''e New Zealanders could see and marvel at the wondrous streams of traffic and the soldiers cer.cele'.sly marching along roads that y.vrc streams of liquid mini, io and f-cm the battlefield. thev v. ere able .- i' for themselves t.hat British spirit be broken and that British

. are still unconquerable, that we v have been unpteparal, but that we \> at least undaunted. British "Tomi" gather.nl in groups, and save .uiisins cheers for the two civilians from the Antipodes. Tt was a ,-eene of historic interest a memory to be cher ished. THE COMMANDXi;-IN-CI!IF.F. TSnek from the Sommc to the fienerai Headquarters where amidst more peaceful surroundings, the brains 'of all this vast oi nanisatio, r are at work day and night. Mr. Massey, Sir .losenh Ward, and the New Zealand General ,'n command of our organisation in England had here the honor ot lunching with Sir Douglas Haig, the Commander irehiei of the British Armies in the Field, ami members of his personal staff. Sir Douglas Haig is not a man who seeks the limelight, and of this meeting no more need be said than that om visitors | left his hospitable roof ■ nspired with the calm confidence with which he himself now views the situation. Sir Douglas endeavored to dodge the photographer and tim eincmatograpiier who had had accompanied- us during the d.iy, buj in I this he was, luckily,. unsuccdMJul. It

will interest Xew Zeahmders it know' Ihat in due time (hoy will lie in possesion of a realistic and permanent record of the' historic meetiifc jTlio Viw Zealand Minister:! were able to heir at first liaml the value set upon the lightint; qualities and nVganisa-Jon of tl.e Xew Zealand Divi-ion in the recent e.mtinualion of the f-'omme efl'-Misive, hi.t oil tliis point ai-.o no more need be slid. Til JO 1' L' i , M V , i. Farewells having been said. t,e -ars Viliiskoil us sif by devious ways through the beautiful uplands to the headquarters of the now famous Royal /lying Corp.?. Df all that was seen .here it is not jidvkub'e to ghe detail,. \Yo arrived at tile ast aerodrome, and as the noiec of our .ears ceased we heard similar iioiscs overhand. Looking i|> we saw machines in -front rs fly. ina hither and thither, banians; graccfully, or coming to earth with easy bird-like .notion. On the level grass lands just behind the huge repair shop and the great hangars a biplane ,/a-ne down from the sky, and with ; whining propeller, skimmed liong -the ■ ground till it came Id rest beside us. Out of this machine stepped a cleanshaven, keen-faced Oenernl. Divesting himself of his leather coat and skull cap, and his mulfler, he handed them to the Prime Win'-i.'r if 1 Xcw Zealand, who quiijkli 'tonne.! mem and took his place in the seat ( ju.;t vacated. An attendant set ti'.e propeller in motion again, and in time titan it takes to write it the Premier was in the air and flying swiftly bey.md .he aerodrome. _ Red-facijd 'villi the keen wind of fast movement he e.ime to eai'th jgttin pleased .nth his novel experience, the flying men declaring that

lie ivni n real "snort.' 1 Tliivhig the fl'ght iio had heard the liiiot shouting to liiiii; but had not hoard wii.it ho was asking. On returning to mother earth he asked him what it was a'l about. '•Oil," replied the pilot,"- : I was <"ily diloot:your attention to tlu f.'iei that I was* (lying with my '.ands oi" the eon trols." * The Prime Minister o( Xew Zealand like the rest of us, will now t«;:3 ojr his hat to Jia Royal Flying Coir.-: t:-::- rm ok t-th .rornxKv. From ,he .loro-'romo to Am>eas anil from by It was ad a jvoat -ii'sii and ia Pans (here war. itimo '".u an f-tTicinl -tall upon the i io.-!.!ont of tho /it-public, tile Forji«i! OHifo fi.id t'.k. Minhtwr 'or i7ar, Thenc-? nsxt day by .rain to a French p-rt an,d cnosi the Channel '.o Eng-