THE DESTROYER HEROES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3065, 28 April 1917, Page 10

THE DESTROYER HEROES

NEW ZEALAND'S-MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION. ■ - I ■- —— '"■■ ■' ''.. The Acting-Prime - Minister , (Sir James Allen) has sent the following message to the Admiralty:— y''New'Zealand thrilled with the account of the destroyer action off, Dover. Desires to send congratulations to the Admiralty, and: particularly to Commander Evans, - wjio is well remembered in this country,' and to Commander Peck, Please convey our sympathy with the" wounded, and hopes for their speedly recovery' to continue their heroic careers, which will be an example and an inspiration to all."

■v, Sir ■ James Allen had intended to ( be present at a- function organised by the Navy League at Duriedin last' evening, but he was dejained in Wellington. To the secretary of the League at Dunedin he sent the following telegram:— "If the Dons strike Devon, I'll quit the port o' Heaven 'And drum them up the Channel as we drummed them long ago."

"By substituting 'Huns' for 'Dons,' Henry. Newbold'B prophetic words in His' poem, .'Drake's. Drum,' come home to ue to-day, as,we read the story of the British destroyers Swift and Broke. A thrill of, pride will be feltthroughout, New Zealand that the spirit of Drake and the 'Nelson touch' are not. dead, :but .alive and unimpaired. Were I present with you I would ask that ...the;; lads of our wmntry might, insthedays'to come, (should/war again be: possible,; which. I. hope,it ; will not), have opportunities 'of proving .themselves men of courage and. determination like Commanders Evans and Peck, to prove • themselves heroes like Midshipman Gyles and Helmsman Rowles. No monetary contribution to the Navy ■will suffice. It is too-mercenary, deadening, uninspiring; and soulless. , What an extra thrill would; go through this country to-day did we'know.that Gyles and Bowles were New Zealanders, of a New Zealand unit in the great Imperial Navy! Surely we need opportunity to take our share in men even more than in money, and we claim: the chance for our own New Zealand-born sons to prove their worth." ■■'•.'. . I