The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1918. NEW ZEALAND'S PART IN THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1918. NEW ZEALAND'S PART IN THE WAR.

The announcement that the Government of New Zealand intends to publish a special history of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces will probably be received with mixed feelings, not on account of the desirability of such a record being made, but chiefly owing to the fear that the compilation may not fall to the right hands. The whole success or failure of a project of this special nature depends on the ability of the historian. It is stated that the history is to be written " in a manner worthy of the theme, not from the point of view of the military critic, but with a sympathetic knowledge of the brave spirit iu which our soldiers met the hardships sufferings which they were called upon to face." It is at once obvious that a work of this kind can only be successfully achieved by one of those rare type of writers who combine a genius for historical method and accuracy with a painstaking and sympathetic acquaintance with the actual conditions under which our soldiers worked from the time of going into camp until repatriation, and it must necessarily involve some very strong criticisms concerning ♦the glaring defects of the New Zealand Government's defence administration, not from the point of view of the man in the street, but from the experiences of our soldiers themselves. That, however, is merely by the way. The first thought which was naturally evoked by the announcement of the project, was how greatly the task would have been facilitated had the Dominion Government, m the first instance, selected the right man to act as war correspondent with the New Zealand Forces; but, like a considerable number of Government appoint-

merits, this position was assigned unwisely. However highly Mr. Malcolm Ross' other literary abilities may be assessed, there is an undoubted feeling that as a war correspondent he lias not achieved the aim which, when the appoint-, ment was made, the Government had in view, and a fear will exist that the same blander may be perpetrated in the contemplated history of our soldiers. It is obvious that if a genius of the right stamp had been appointed as New. Zealand war correspondent, had mixed with the soldiers of all ranks, heard their stories, seen their conditions, and witnessed their deeds in the " far-flung, battle-line," he could have woyen a history that would be a memorial for all time, full of interest, relieved with humor, replete with accurate details and embodying the skeleton of a work into which could be artistically interwoven the undercurrent of the soldiers' lives in the field as recounted 'in graphic letters and recorded in well-kept dearies. Such a book, suitably illustrated, would form a priceless boon for our descendants, embodying as it would the very essence of the war spirit of New Zealand's sons—a memorial and an inspiration for all time. Under present circumstances, the best that can be obtained will be but as patchwork to the finished fabric of the loom, yet every effort should be made to put the available material to the best use. It is in obtaining this data that difficulties may be encountered, not so much as to the volume thereof that may be forthcoming, but in being able to detect mere impressions from facts and failing to grasp such irony and humor as may be cloaked under seemingly serious records of incidents, or colored (intentionally or otherwise) by temperamental idiosyncrasies, yet even if a few fairy tales do creep in no great harm will be done so long as the hatchet is not thrown too far. In the compilation of a work of this nature some latitude must be given if it is to J>e a series of vivid pictures of our soldiers' life in camp, on leave, and at the front. Certainly the work should not be undertaken unless the Government is prepared to act in a liberal spirit as to its cast. It is proposed to appeal to all those who possess letters of special interest to forward them to the Director of Base Records, also to ask patriotic societies and soldiers' clubs to obtain suitable material for " a true soldier's history of the war." This is all very well in its way, and it has the merit of economy, but if the Government really desires to evolve a history of the kind mentioned above, it should offer a sufficient inducement to those who have taken part in the war to put down their experiences in writing, being paid on a basis of contributions to the press for all accepted matter, a special bonus to be given to all contributors of special merit. There are numbers o\ literary men among the rank and file of our forces who might thus be induced to assist in the compilation of a history that would be worthy of the deeds which have shed a glorious lustre on the Dominion and on the Empire. The one great difficulty will be the selection of the historian who can do justice to the work, and it might help matters considerably if the Government were to make known the name of the expert to whom this important work is to be entrusted. It is well, however, to obtain as much material as possible at the earliest moment, as life is uncertain, and delay in garnering may mean the loss of valuable and interesting contributions.