AS THE earliest volunteers for the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force were finalising their training on home soil, the Commonwealth was offering to raise a second Light Horse Brigade for battle.
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The Daily Advertiser on October 9, 1914, reported that the second brigade would mean sending away another 1920 men with 2100 horses.
"No difficulty will be experienced in obtaining the volunteers, as half the number are already at hand," the Advertiser story said.
Elsewhere in the edition, a report on the resumption of federal parliament gave details of the Australian government's response to the war crisis and the Governor-General's opening address.
"The Commonwealth had offered 20,000 men, with equipment and maintenance in Europe, and further units, which had been accepted," the report said.
New initiatives by the government included proposals for a pension scheme for Australians engaged in active service and their dependents.
"Parliament would be invited to grant £100,000 as a free gift to Belgium in recognition of her heroic sacrifices," the Advertiser reported.
"The promised Murray waters scheme would receive early consideration.
"Early steps would be taken to bring about a uniform railway gauge."
Closer to home, the Wagga Red Cross League resolved at a meeting to send £150 to England for the purchase of garments for soldiers.
Since the league's previous meeting, three bales of garments had been sent off containing hospital shirts, pyjamas, flannel day shirts, towels, undershirts, socks, handkerchiefs, bandages and other materials.
Details were given of fund-raising for the Wagga Patriotic Fund, including proceeds from dances around the district.
"Mrs Lloyd donated a sheep, which was sold at the saleyards by Mr Blake, and realised £2 11/-," the Advertiser report said.
The patriotic fund, at that time, had reached just over £1696.
The Advertiser reported in its October 7 edition that various units of the NSW section of the expeditionary force had marched through Sydney streets.
"The thoroughfares were lined by enthusiastic and cheering crowds," the report said.
The Carmania's Victim. | SINKING OF THE CAP TRAFALGAR. | ARMED MERCHANTMEN IN CONFLICT. | GERMAN TURNS TURTLE. | A MID-ATLANTIC BATTLE. | LONDON, Friday - An officer of the Carmania states that after a chase they got within four miles of the Cap Trafalgar, when the vessel turned and responded to the Carmania's challenge.
The firing became fast and furious. Projectiles and splinters from bursting shells showered around the Carmania's men.
The Cap Trafalgar was badly hit and had a heavy list to starboard. She was afire fore and aft.
The Carmania was also afire on the fore bridge, while the fore bridge telegraphs and steering gear were completely wrecked. The captain's cabin, the chart house and a number of officers' quarters were gutted. The Carmania was badly holed.
When the Cap Trafalgar was sinking the Carmania ceased her fire. The Cap Trafalgar listed until her funnels touched the water. Then she rolled over, stood on end and dived out of sight. A collier was seen helping the boats full of survivors.
A 'cruiser, supposed to be the Dresden, was sighted on the horizon and the Carmania doubled on her course in the darkness and escaped.
About 200 of the Cap Trafalgar's crew must have perished.
REFUGEES IN HOLLAND. || HOMELESS, WEEPING OUTCASTS. | AMSTERDAM, Thursday - Rosendaal, a town in Holland, near the Belgian border, is filled with homeless, weeping men, women and children. All the houses are over-crowded and thousands of refugees are still arriving.
Our Army. | ALL GOING WELL. | MESSAGE FROM NEW GUINEA. | MELBOURNE, Friday - A wireless message from New Guinea to the Minister for Defence announces that the health of the Australian troops is excellent and that all is well.
Defence of Antwerp. | BELGIANS' GALLANT RESISTANCE. | LOW-LYING COUNTRY FLOODED. | GERMANS SUFFER HEAVILY. | LONDON, Thursday - In the fight near Schoonards, 230 Belgians held a position for 24 hours. When ordered to retire only 35 were left, including the Commandant.
Eventually, German gun after gun was put out of action.
Only once did the Germans advance towards the bridge, but they were all shot down.
Fighting progressed simultaneously at Termonde, where the artillery duel was fierce.
The Belgian guns destroyed the locks, flooding a portion of the country and hindering the German advance, compelling the infantry to retire.
SYMPATHY FOR ALLIES. | ANGERS KAISER AND MINISTERS. | RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS MADE. | LONDON, Thursday - The "Daily Telegraph's" New York correspondent says that the German Government, especially the Kaiser, are intensely exasperated at the sympathy displayed on all sides in America on behalf of the Allies.
The German Ministers attribute the American attitude to Machiavellian stratagems, including subsiding and corrupting the American press.
UNITED STATES' NEUTRALITY. | PRESIDENT'S ANSWER TO THE KAISER. | RESERVATION OF JUDGEMENT. | AMSTERDAM, Thursday - A Berlin newspaper publishes President Wilson's reply to a telegram send by the Kaiser early in September.
The President said, “You applied to me for an impartial judgement. It is unwise and too early for a single disinterested nation to form or express an opinion, but the day of settlement will come, when I am convinced the unions of Europe will unite to end their differences. Whoever is wrong will learn that the responsibility will fall on the guilty. My reservation of judgement must recommend itself to you as a true expression of neutrality.”
