IN GREAT BRITAIN.

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

IN GREAT BRITAIN.

GOOD HEALTH, GOOD HEART. MESSAGE FROM THE XING. The safe arrival of the Second Echelon of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force and a contingent of the Australian Imperial Force in Great Britain was announced by the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, to-day.

There would be relief and glad hearts ' at the safe arrival of the troops, said Mr. Fraser. The men were in good i heart and health and would be pleased s to land on the soil of the Mother . Country at a time when her need was i so great. On the voyage they had called ; at Capetown and Freetown, in Sierra j Leone. ■, Paying a tribute to the Royal Navy, i Mr. Fraser said that its work had inspired the people of the Dominion and gave thean, an assurance that there could be only one outcome of the present titanic struggle. He also praised the air arm for the manner in which it had contributed to the protection of the ships of the convoy. "I offer on behalf of the nation heartfelt congratulations to relatives and friends upon the safe completion of the voyage, and to the troops upon the [ beginning of their fight for the Motheri land, for the Commonwealth and for i freedom," said Mr. Fraser. According to a broadcast to-day by [ the British Broadcasting Corporation the troops were welcomed on their. ' arrival by the First Lord of the Admir* ' alty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, and received • messages from the King and the Secrei tary of State for War, Mr. Anthony i Eden. In a recorded account of the . troops' arrival the sound of singing and; cheering was heard, and several soldiers spoke into the microphone. |