THE SILENT DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1919, Page 6

THE SILENT DIVISION.

GENERAL RUSSELL PRAISES BIS TROOPS. Said General Russell at Wellington on Saturday:— They have been called the "Silent Division," lint he could say nov that the Division bore a very high reputation. -He would not bo able to speak at length, because his health was not of the best. He had hoped that the voyage would put hi.n straight, but the warmth. '■' the we'eime in Christchurch had got away what little reserve he had. had. With .1 nation that produced fine horsemen and bred tine horses good cavalry was looked for. but the question was: ""What about the infantry?" The infantry absolutely represented the nation, and as the nation.was so also was th<> infantry. Judged by that standard, tie mothers of New Zealand had reason to be proud of their sons, and also of their country. Au officer who occupied a hisrh position had said: "I think too can always claim, that the British .ftrsp.y would as soon fight, wj.ih the Ncv.- Zealand Division alongside of it, or take over fiom it, or hand over to it. as to any other division je France." That, was just about the highest praise. It was only the opinion of one man, but of one well qualified >to form it.

THE GRAND SPIRIT OF COLONEL MALONE.

Results like that were not obtained without a certain amount of hard work. He reckoned the division owed General Godley an enormous debt for the way in taught the men a strict sense of duty. Combined with that, General Godley had a strong sense of justice. It was easy to give offeDce in. these matters, but he never knew a man who was actuated by a stronger sense of justice than General Godley was. Latterly they had not. seen much of him, and for the last year they had had nothing to do with him at all. But with him they got credit for everything they had done. The New Zealanders" had another very good chief—General Birdwood (applause), with whose reputation all were familiar. Long after General Birdwood had left them General Russell continued to get letters from anxious fathers and mothers, who thought that General Birdwood was the only man who could tell them about their boys. He would like to say a word about the Wellington troops They had had the good luck to take away a first-class commanding officer —Colonel Malone (applause)—who had impressed those under him with his personality. Colonel Malone reached the highest point on Gallipoli (Chunuk Bahr) reached by any New Zealander. and there he had fallen. General Russell remembered saying after Bapaume: "Old Malone's spirit is living still." Before Bapaume fell be asked for volunteers for the undertaking, and a voluntary battalion was right there ready to step off the mark. (Applause.) The Germans evacuated Bapaume that night. THE BIG BEACH OF HUMANITY AND ITS PEBBLES. While the soldiers were being praised for their work at the war he thought of how magnificently the people at home in New Zealand had behaved during the influenza epidemic, when the spirit of self-sacrifice had been very evident, and many had laid down their lives for others. All through the war New Zealand had given the troops their best support, and that did make a difference, Their generosity had known no stint. Good work had been done by. the Y.M.C.A.

He was happy and proud to think that he did a part that the people were satisfied with. The credit belonged to the Expeditionary Force as a whole, and to those who remained behind and saw that the reinforcements went along steadily. It was no use individuals thinking they did anything much. The beach of humanity was a very big one, and there were a great many pebbles on it. Everybody was imbued with the same spirit; it was in no sense a oneman show. Whatever officer dropped out, they were ahle to carry on. The history of the British Army in France conveyed to a certain extent a message of hope to meet the problems which lay in front of us. We, as all the other peoples of the world, lay in the Valley of Indecision, but we might yet win our way to the ridges if we worked together. Human sympathy would help us far along the road. "I thank you, both for myself and Lady Russell, and, above all, for the division and those fine fellows I had the honor to know. I thank you very heartily."

General Russell resumed his seat amidst applause, and, before the gathering dispersed, the National Anthem was played.