Chapter XVII.
The Daily Round.

The performance of such duties as challenging, turning out the guard, saluting and other ceremonials were now receiving strict attention. This most necessary branch of the soldiers' training occupied any spare time that was available, but went hard with the already overworked and pest-ridden troops.

Under this rigid regime the growth from month to month of that spirit which gradually converted the force into a smart body of men was very apparent, and it is claimed that the esprit-

Early morning Route Marches.
Photo supplied by F. H. Hudson.

de-corps that developed amongst the Samoan Expeditionary Force was never attained by any other unit which left New Zealand's shores.

Route marches continued and gave the troops an opportunity of seeing something of the surrounding country. Though undertaken in the cool of the early mornings they proved somewhat strenuous with full packs up. But these early marches in page 100

Typical cocoanut plantations.

page 101the balmy air through shady bush tracks and coconut plantation roads, or along palm-bordered lagoons, past native villages and fording the numerous running streams that ran from the well-watered hinterland, left a lasting impression on all who took part in them. The 5th Wellington Band was here heard to advantage, and by now had attained a degree of perfection. Very soon Samoa rang with the then popular tunes of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," or "Down the Mississippi," whistled by the small boys and sung in chorus by the musical villagers, while the Band was no less facile in adapting some of the catchy Samoan melodies, two never-to-be-forgotten favourites being "Tofa ma Feleni" and "Down by the Vaisigano."

As much relaxation as possible was afforded by granting afternoon leave each day to a limited number of men, who spent their time in viewing the various places of interest, Papase'ea, the sliding rock; Papalaloa, the jumping rock; Lanuto'o, the mountain lake; exploring the reefs and lagoons in native canoes, or resting quietly on the cool verandahs of Kionka, or Herr Schick, the proprietor of the Tivoli, or Central or International Hotels, where the waters of the Bay lapped the feet and the cool trade winds blew, with the German proprietors and their minions in ready attendance with light beers and sparkling wines and a varied assortment of cooling drinks, a favourite with the modest consumer being a "Dr. Funck."

Towards the end of September, under the undue drain upon them, the supplies of light beers in the Territory gave out, and were replaced with the heavier New Zealand brew. Its effect upon the men was not considered beneficial, and the price rose considerably. All hotels and bars in Samoa were then placed strictly out-of-bounds to N.C.O.s and men, which was felt by the troops as a great hardship, for their conduct up to this date on the whole had been exemplary.

General training continued assiduously throughout September, and musketry commenced at Magiagi, a picturesque corner of a nearby coconut plantation, where targets were run up and a short range marked off. The range was bordered by rows of page 102

Vaea Camp.

"D" Battery Camp.
Photo by A. J. Tattersall, Apia.

page 103coconut trees which kept it in perpetual quietude from any breezes that blew. Unfortunately our first casualty occurred here—Sapper Drewery, N.Z. Railway Engineers, was accidentally shot through the chest, and had to be evacuated to New Zealand.

Battery also performed creditably from their stations at targets down the lagoon, their shell cases being eagerly sought after by the residents as another souvenir to add to their already large assortment of cases fired on various historical occasions on the shores of Apia.

The U.S. gunboat "Fortune," armed with a single 6 pdr., called in from Pago Pago late in September, and the troops took great delight in a cricket match with the ship's company at the Pilot Station.

The Band, under Bandmaster Pat. Cole, gave some excellent concerts in the precincts of Malifa Camp, which were much appreciated not only by the troops, but by a large concourse of residents, both white and brown, who crowded from far and near to hear the "Fitafita Band" and the star performers of the Regiment. These concerts also enabled generous collections to be made towards the Sick and Wounded and Belgian Relief Funds.

On 30th September another draft, under Lieut. D. A. Kenny, left Samoa for New Zealand. Seventeen German prisoners, the majority being ex-German civil servants, and others whose presence in the Territory was considered undesirable, were also embarked.

A General Election fell due in New Zealand, and provision was made by an amendment of the Electoral Act to enable every soldier, irrespective of age, then absent from the Dominion, to record his vote. As no other troops had then left New Zealand, the amendment had application only to the Samoan Force.

It was impossible to provide for each soldier in Samoa to vote for any particular member standing for his own constituency in New Zealand, and the difficulty was partly overcome by page 104votes for party only. The occasion was the first upon which "Party" was officially recognised in the New Zealand Statutes, and the following is a sample of the voting paper used:

The polling booths were also unique, some being held in the native houses at Malifa Camp, from which the troops were ejected for the purpose and tables and chairs took the places of the native mattings upon which many of the troops still slept. Booths were opened at Malifa and Vaea on 12th and 13th October, at the Wireless Station, "D" Battery Camp, and the Customs House on the following days.