LORD ALLENBY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18604, 1 February 1926, Page 8

LORD ALLENBY.

SOUTH ISLAND VISIT. ARRIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH. Lord Allenby, the famous British General, who won such great distinction by the able manner in wh.ieli ho conducted the campaign against the Turks in the East, arrived in "Christchurch on Saturday morning, on his way to Otago. The distinguished visitor, who, owing to the strong sou'wester against which tho ferry steamer had to battle, did not have a pleasant trip from Wellington, looked as though he was feeling the strain of his recent strenuous duties, and was enjoying ins respite lrom tliem. .Lord Allen by ' was accompanied by Lady All'enby, and travelling with him was Colonel J. H. White, die stall oliicer who will remain with Lord Allenby until his tour of the Dominion is completed. Also with him were tho Hon. bir Heaton and Lady Rhodes and Major-General It. Young, G.O.C. New Zealand Forces. At the Lhristchureh railway station he was met by ColonelCommandant M. M. Uard'ner, D.5.0., O.C. southern Command, and Lieut. Colonel Hurst, Major b. E. P. NicholiSj aud Major D. S. Murchison, the last three officers having all served with him in the Eastern campaign, and being representatives of the committee formed in Christchurch to make arrangements for hi« sojourn in the City on his arrival from the south nest week-end. Colonel White also saw service in Palestine with General Allenby.

Too Much Hospitality. Owing to the rain which was falling at the time. Lord Allenby did not leave his carriage at the railway station, and breakfasted in if. He was • able to grant an interview five minutes before the train left for Dunedin. He had, he stated, since his arrival in the Dominion, had the. pleasure of meeting many of his old comrades who had served with him in Palestine and Mesopotamia, and hoped to be able to meet more of them before his departure. He would never forget the times they had spent together, and hoped all was well and flourishing with them. In Auckland and Wellington he had been overwhelmed with hospitality.; in fact, he said smilingly, there had been rather much of it —more than he had expected. In Wellington he had been presented with the gold badge of membership of the Returned Soldiers' Association, which was one of the decorations he had been awarded that he would prize. He had also been called a "New Zealand Digger," which he regarded as a great honour. Auckland and Wellington he looked on as beautiful cities, so far as he had been able to judge from the limited time he had been in those places. It had to be remembered that, owing to the .brief nature of Ins' visit to the Dominion, he had been forced to gain many of his impressions from the window of a train, while a good deal of his travelling had been done at night. With regard to Australia, Lordv Allenby said that he had spent only thirteen days there, and much of that time had been occupied in official receptions. This was altogether too short a time to enable him to form any fixed ideas of a continent such as Australia was, but he had been struck with its great possibilities. Cavalry in War. As a cavalry leador, Lord Allenby's views on tho question of whether this branch of military service has seen its best days are interesting. That the days of cavalry fighting are not yet over is his opinion and he considers that New Zealanders and Australians are particularly well fitted for such fighting. Both these, countries were able to breed horses of the type suitable for mounted work, and he hoped that in the future they would continue to breed purebred stock.Ldrd Allenby's observations wore out short at this stage owing to the train taking its departure. Christchurch Arrangements. Lord Allenby is expected back in Christchurch on Saturday evening by the first express. He will be entertained at dinner in the Christchurch Club that evening, when it is expected that all tho officers present will be those who served under him with the New Zealand Mounted Brigade. After the dinner he will probably make a call on tho Officers' Club to meet members. On Sunday he will motor to Lake Coleridge.,- The following day will be .a busy one. In the lhorniug he , will motor round tho Cashmere Hills, and will probably be served with morning tea at the Sign of the Kiwi. At noon he will bo tendered a civic reception in tho City Council Chambers, the Guard of Honour being supplied by tho First Canterbury Rifles. After lunching at the Officers' Club, ho,will probably be taken for a motor ride into tho country, and in the evening he will leave for Wellington by the ferry steamer. On the railway station Lord Allenby was waited on by Mr H. Fleck, vicepresident of the Christchurch 8.5.A., and Mr A. F. Graham, secretary, and promised tor meet members of tho Association at tho Clubrooms at 5 p.m. on Monday, February Bth. Ho will also pay a visit to the Eannerdale Home and the Cashmere Sanatorium the samo day..

AT ASHBURTON. An enthusiastic welcome was accorded Lord and Latly Allonby at the Ashburton Eailway Station on Saturday morning as they passed through on their way south. A large crowd gathered to greet the distinguished visitors, among those present being the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs R. Galbraith), members of the Borough Council, the chairman of the County Council (Mr W. G. Gallagher), several members of the Council, and Colonel J. Findlay, who served under Lord Allenby in Palestine during the .Great War. In extending a welcome to Lord and Lady Allenby, Mr Galbraith expressed regret that their stay \vafc so short. They were especially interested in Lord Allenby owing to the fact that so many New Zealand soldiers had been under his command. He hoped that their stay in the Dominion would be a very enjoyable one. Mr Gallagher also added a welcome to the visitors on behalf of the count}-, stating that if Lord Allenbv returned to New Zea-. land, he would be able to obtain plenty of shooting, mountaineering, deer stalking, and fishing in the Ashburton County.

In returning thanks i for the reception, on behalf of Lady Allenby and himself, Lord Allenby expressed gratitude at the wonderful hospitality which had been extended to them since they had arrived in the Dominion. lie had been delighted to meet old friends. He would never wish to fight with better troops than the New Zealanders, for they were the finest lot of fellows under him, and nothing could upset their spirit or diminish their- ardour. All through, they had carried themselves with credit, not glory —fye objected to that word. Tiiey did not .fight for glory nowadays—they fought for business. (Laughter.) He would never forget the great work that the Anzacs had done in Palestine and Syria. Ho thanked them again for their kindness. (Applause.) Three cheers were then given for tho visitors.