The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Kangaroo Marines, by R. W. Campbell

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Title: The Kangaroo Marines

Author: R. W. Campbell

Release Date: February 1, 2009 [EBook #25452]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KANGAROO MARINES ***

Produced by Al Haines

[Illustration: Cover art]

The

Kangaroo Marines

By

CAPT. R. W. CAMPBELL

_Author of "Private Spud Tamson"_

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD

London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne

First Published 1915

DEDICATED

TO THE

CONQUERORS OF ANZAC

AND THE

MANY KIND FRIENDS I MET

IN

AUSTRALASIA, EGYPT, AND THE DARDANELLES

PREFACE

I am not an Australasian, I am a Scot. Therefore, I hold no special
brief for the folks down under. But I am an Imperialist--one filled
with admiration for our overseas Dominions and the self-sacrifice of
our colonial cousins. They have played the game. They have astonished
the world. They have even exceeded our own expectations. Let us not
stint our praise. Let us write deep in the annals of our literature
and military history this supreme devotion, this noble heroism. And in
the greater Councils of Empire let us see to it that these sons of the
Motherland have a say in settling affairs.

And I can claim at least the right to write about our gallant
Australasians. I have lived in Australia and New Zealand. I have
served on a Sydney paper and with the New Zealand _Herald_. I have met
every Premier (Federal and otherwise), from "Andrew" Fisher to "Bill"
Massey. And, during my stay, I made it my duty to study the Citizen
Army--a National Service organisation.

This was before the war. And this army was founded by "K" and the
Governments of Australia and New Zealand. Did they see ahead? One is
almost tempted to think so. In any case, the possession of a General
Staff and the framework of a National Army ensured the rapid
mobilisation of a voluntary force to assist the Motherland. This force
was armed, clothed, equipped and staffed from the existing military
organisations in Australia and New Zealand. You have heard of their
courage