“DON’T BE MISLED.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2477, 16 April 1909, Page 2

“DON’T BE MISLED.”

SIR HARRY RAWSQN’S ADVICE

The densely-packed audience at tlxe Town Hall, when Sir Harry Raw,son said farewell to the citizens of Sydney, were reminded by his Excellency of their responsibilities in regard to the defence of Australia. “The Australian flag is a grand flag, and one you will always be proud of,” Sir Harry said, “but I want you to remember that up in the corner of that flag there is a little Union Jacw —-(cheers)—-which has always stood for that liberty which"your forefathers and mine fought for and non, and that we now enjoy. Wo have inherited it—we had not to fight for it. ‘‘Now, I want to impress upon you that Australia is a young country,” Sir Harry continued, '“but yet you have a long history behind you, because the history and glories of the old Empire belong to you just as much as to me. (Cheers.) I want you, as I ain certain you do, to love your Australian flag, and j at the same time I want yon to love I the Union Jack. (Cheers.) . It is tlie flag that binds us all together. Wo all belong to the great Empire which may -be termed ‘tho Greater’Britain.’ It is an Empire widely spread, and comprises, ‘you might say, the pick of the plums of the whole, world. There arc nations that have no such areas, and that are looking for outlets for their po-. puiation— maybe looking for such spots of the world as this, and wishing they may get them. ' l ' “You have a- magnificent country, and I am certain that, if I am alive to see it, in 50 years Australia will be one of the finest spots in the world. You have everything here but the population, and 1 hope you will get that. “But I especially want to impress on the young men- and boys of tills country that they will havo to defend it from the covetousness of any other nation that may want to plant a foot in it. I am certain that, if necessary, you, would willingly die in the effort’ to pro- . tect your country. “Don’t be led away wth what took place in South Africa. You men did magnificent work there; but you must >; -yemember that you were fighting a. very , brave enemy, .but not an enemy tha t ; moved about in thousands under real , discipline. They were excellent scouts ■ and magnificent guerilla, fighters. • -But ‘ vou have to fight a nation that means * business, you will find it a very different flung. Yen rnu't therefore give yp.*yrseivus up to drilling together to become j not a mob, but a machine that will work I i-i, i i ini iilsa aiMiMl

without friction. No nation has been saved by guerilla-warfare. You can go right back in history to prove this. You may be told that you have the men —you have good men, good shots, and good riders —but unless they are drilled together aiid ablo to be formed into what may be termed ‘an army,’ then lany real disciplined army would be a great deal too much for them.” ~_.s Excellency, continuing, said lie admired what was done by Australian troops in South Africa. They did magnificent work, and ho knew that they were grand comrades. Ho was not trying to detract from the magnificent qualities they had shown; hut he wanted them to remember that the defence of this country would depend in a great measure upon themselves. “It is not right,” concluded Sir Harry, “that I should lecture you like this; but I could not help saying what I have, because I love your country.” (Loud cheers.)