Gallant Maoris

Win Lustre For Polynesian Nome During Greek Battles

A LARGE proportion of the young men in the Cook Islands who are eligible for military service have enlisted for service with the New Zealand Expe ditionary Force. They, of course, will be put into the Maori battalions—they speak the same language.

One of the things that will live long in the memory of those who love Poly nesia is the reaction during the past month of British and American war cor respondents to the feats of the Maori battalion in Greece.

During that heart-breaking retreat from Mount Olympus to Athens, the New Zealand Division fought a long series of violent rear-guard actions; and, in those actions, the Maori soldiers, fighting staunchly beside their European breth ren, were conspicuous for their gallantry, courage, initiative and steadiness. It was notable that again and again the cor respondents of the world’s leading news papers praised the bravery and the fine soldierly qualities of the Maori battalion.

We shall look forward to reading, some day, the full story of Polynesian gallantry.