WWI CENTENARY: Australians prepare to enter World War I

On September 10, The Daily Advertiser reported on early glimpses in Sydney of those who had enlisted in the expeditionary force.

Under the heading “Australia’s Army. Fine specimens of men. Battalion marches through the city” the Advertiser reported:

“Today the city had an opportunity of judging of the quality of the men going away with the Expeditionary Force. They broke camp at Kensington this morning owing to the course being required for races, and this afternoon a battalion was taken on a route march.

“About 1000 men were brought right into the city to the Domain. The streets were thronged with spectators. It was thought at first that the troops were making a quiet departure, but the men were marching under strict orders, and although bombarded with questions right along the route, they did not answer.

“The men presented a magnificent appearance.”

The Advertiser published a letter to the editor from Joseph Pike, of St John’s rectory, saying he would be glad to receive parcels of winter clothing and warm blankets “for the use of the oppressed and destitute people in Belgium, France and England who are suffering the miseries of war”.

The Advertiser also reported on violence on the docks in Melbourne where “feeling between naturalised German and British members of the Victorian Stevedoring Association has become strained during the past week."

The Decisive Battle | TO SETTLE GERMANY'S FATE | RACING IN NORTHERN FRANCE | LONDON, Thursday - The Times says that the battle which may decide Germany’s fate and must decide for all time the fate of Northern France, is now raging.

The allied forces can face defeat, but a single German defeat in battle on a grand scale must mean full failure.

Germany fights with every civilised nation praying for her downfall and the obliteration of her perverse ambitions, which led her to plunge the world into strife.

The Kaiser Unwell | SUFFERS BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT | THE USELESSNESS OF ZEPPELINS | NEW YORK, Thursday - The Kaiser is described as looking worn and haggard. It is a great disappointment to him that practical war tests show that the possibilities of Zeppelins, as a destructive force, were greatly exaggerated by a clique which derived a profit from their construction.

RUSSIAN JEWS | ALLOWED TO SERVE IN THE ARMY | LONDON, Friday - The rumor that the Czar intends to proclaim equal rights for Jews in Russia is not substantiated, but there are a quarter of a million Jews serving in the Russian army. The British Foreign Minister says that Britain will not neglect any opportunity of urging the emancipation of Jews.

LADY VOLUNTEERS | AUSTRALIAN CORPS ORGANISED | SYDNEY, Thursday - A corps of lady volunteers has been formed.

The New South Wales force will consist of 5000 women between the ages of 16 and 32, who will undergo a course of military drill and rifle instruction.

The Pathfinder Disaster | 'EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF' | HEROIC OFFICERS | LONDON, Wednesday - Survivors of the Pathfinder disaster state that those in the forepart of the vessel had no chance.

Wreckage of all kinds came down out of the smoke of the explosion.

Everything floatable was thrown overboard to give the survivors a chance.

There was no panic. The final order was: “Every man for himself.”

Two officers swam amongst the men, carrying pieces of timber to enable their comrades to save themselves.

STORIES FROM THE FRONT | 'RIFLES TOO HOT TO HOLD' | LONDON, Wednesday - “The Germans were like the crowd at a football cup tie”, states one of the Coldstream Guards.

“I was well entrenched, but my rifle became overheated from incessant firing, and I could hardly hold it. Our bullets ploughed through the Germans but they still rolled up. Then we got to the bayonet work and drove them nearly 500 yards. We cut down every man who didn’t run away.”