EMPIRE FRONT TO MEET ENEMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 5

EMPIRE FRONT TO MEET ENEMY.

BRITAIN'S THRILL.

lave Heritage Of Freedom

In Fight.

WELCOMES TO TROOPS

United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received noon.) LONDON, June 20. Mr. Geoffrey Shakespeare, UnderSecretary for the Dominions, addressing the New Zealand and Australian troops on behalf of the Dominions Office, said: "I am proud to be the first Government member to welcome you in the name of all the people of Britain. There will be a thrill in every heart and every home in this country when it is learned that you have arrived safely. I am grateful to the Royal Navy for! delivering this precious cargo from the ends of the earth safely home.

"You have come to our aid at a most momentous time. Civilisation and our priceless heritage of freedom is at stake. France is sorely wounded, but the fight for freedom will go on. Twenty-

five years ago your fathers and some of you stood with us in the fields of France and clung to the heights of Anzac. "Those names will be remembered wherever the story of brave deeds is told. Some months ago there came the welcome call 'The Navy's here' to the men imprisoned on a Nazi ship. So to-day, in freedom's hour of peril, the cry will go up, 'The Australians and New Zealanders are here.' I wish you all 'God speed.'"

Brigadier N. S. Falla, on behalf of th High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan said: "To all we extend a hearty wel come. New Zealanders made their nam' in the last war. I am confident you wil have a still better name this time. You job is a big one. We all have confiden© in you. The situation is bad, but . know New Zealanders fight best whei two tries are scored against them, send my best wishes to all the Nev Zealanders here." Brigadier R. Miles, officer command ing the New Zealand troops in Britain on behalf of General Freyberg, said "General Freyberg is still in Egypt. Hi sends his greetings and hopes soon t< .be here. You must get down to hare work, because the test may come soon The situation will not daunt us. .Wi must stick it out. The Hun fights ii the same way, with new tactics. I requires backbone, initiative and resour© to meet him. I know you have go that." Brigadier J. Hargest briefly replied "We are glad to be here. We woulc rather be here than anywhere else ii the world. We enter this fight 'boot: and all.' " Mr. Anthony Eden, Minister of War on behalf of all ranks of the Army ii " this country, offered congratulations 01 ' the safe arrival of the New Zealanders " and a warm welcome to the homeland -He said: "With Australia and New 3 Zealand in two theatres of war Canada j and South Africa are taking their full e share. We now present a truly imperial a front, which the enuniy has learnec from past experience never will bt , broken. We are confident that victory 1 will finally crown our arms."