FOR THE FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1917, Page 2

FOR THE FRONT.

.DEPARTURE OF NEW PLYMOUTH SOLDIERS. A largo crowd gathered at the Now Plymouth railway station yesterday ■morning to bid good bye to the local men who left by the mail train to go into camp with tho Thirtieth Reinforcement;!. The citizens' band waa in attendance and during the brief but animated proceedings played a number of airs appropriate to the occasion with verve and spirit. The men assembled at the old drill hall, and then marched to the rooms of the Worn en's Patriotic Committee, where they were supplied with tea and sandwiches, and were also presented with hold-alls by the ladies' committee and cigarettes by the Mayoress (Mrs. C. H. Burgess). .

The Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) briefly addressed the men from on* of the carriage platforms shortly before the train left the station. He said: "Wo are here this morning to see another draft of reinforcements depart, the thirtyfirst, I think, we have sent away from New Plymouth. They are going out to a good fight, a, fight in a good cause. There must be no more Lusitania episodes, no more sinking of hospital ships and leaving the wounded to drown, no more Zeppelin raids and the murder of helpless women and children. We cannot say there will be no more -,«ar, but we arc going to see that if another war comes it will be fought on fair and square lines, and not in accordance with the despicable German fashion. I wish ysu men good luck and a safe return. I am sure you will do your duty and be a credit to your country and yourselves. Good bye, and good luck." (Applause). The band then played "The Red, White and Blue" and "Auld Lang' Syne," the train moving away ,to the strains of the latter, the cheers of the crowd and the tooting of railway locomotives. The playing of' the National Anthem by the band "brought the ceremony to a fitting close, The following are the names, in alphabetical order, of the men who entrained:—B. Albertson. W. F. Anstis, W. A. Bain, H. C. Baker (n.c.0.), T. H. Bates, C. A. Beaumont, W. H. Bishop, A. E. Bishop, Blanchard, IV W. Boulton, E. A. Burkitt, L. Copestake, R. Courtenay, L. S. Dutton, W. Eustace, C. D. Field, A. D. Grav, W. Hadlcy, W. J. Hutching*, H. S. Kelly, C. W. Kirton, A. Knapp, P. S. Lawson, A. W. Lealand, P. J. Mahcr, P. G. McEwan, C. W. McGiven, F. 0. McKoy, P. McLean, F. L. Newell, W. Pentelow, E Pfankuch, T. Prentice, C. F. Putt, L. A. Rogers, T. Rogers, IT. N. Scldon, V. W. L. Stanton, J. J. K. Taylor, E. J. Woodward.