WHARF SCENE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 163, 12 July 1943, Page 4

WHARF SCENE

THE HOMECOMING DISPERSAL BY TRAINS (0.C.) ■ WELLINGTON, this day. A giant liner loomed up through the thick drizzle this morning and berthed quietly at the wharf, and deep-throated cheers from some thousands of veterans of the Second Expeditionary Force marked the end of a long ; voyage from the Middle East to their homeland. Railway whistles returned the greetings, but there had necessarily been secrecy over shipping movements so that any' public demonstration ot magnitude was not possible. The men .are back for extended furlough, and not one spoken to on the troopship supported the ' see it through" doctrine, for they were unfeignedly glad to see their homes again. Then, if at the end of their furlough, they return to duty, they certainly want to get back to their pals in the Middle East in preference to any other theatre of war. This also is the official decision. Wellington would have liked a spectacular march through the city, and the populace would have risen to the historic occasion, but official: plans were more in line with the men's earnest desire to get home. Consequently, while the Wellington district men went ashore first amid, the cheers of their fellow passengers, the day's programme comprised a long schedule of special trains planned on lines which enabled those living furthest away to start the home journey first. South Islanders travel homeward to-night, but they are so numerous that a second batch must await another steamer to-morrow. There was quite a large contingent of Maoris aboard.. Theyincluded Sergeant Manahi, of Qhinemutu, who won the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Takrouna in the final stage of the Tunisian campaign. Corporal Wiwi Teneti, of Waipiro Bay, is also a winner of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was in the party headed by the late Lieutenant Ngarimu when he won the Victoria Cross. Mr. Fraser said that for security reasons, and in the interests of the safety of■ members of the draft, of the ships and their crews, it had been necessary to keep secret the movements of the party to the utmost degree. This had necessitated withholding information from, next-of-kin until very near the eve of arrival, but he was sure those concerned would not mind this and would be thankful that the voyage had been safely accomplished.