CANADIAN TROOPS WELCOMED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 84, 3 January 1940, Page 7

CANADIAN TROOPS WELCOMED

Convoyed By French And British Navies SYMBOL OF ALLIES’ SOLIDARITY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 1. The arrival of a new contingent of the Canadian active service force is the chief news of New Year’s Day in Britain. Correspondents record the heartiness of the welcome accorded th.? troops and their fine bearing. There is full agreement with the words in which Mr. Anthony Eden received the Canadian soldiers on behalf of the Government. His disclosure that the Canadians were convoyed across the Atlantic by the French Navy in co-operation with the British Navy evoked favourable comment.

“The Times” flinks this act of cooperation at sea with a reference to the graceful compliments and the generously warm tributes to Britain contained in the speech of M. Giraudoux, the distinguished head of the French Information Bureau, broadcast to Britain and the Dominions. It says: “French seamen must feel a peculiar gratification in helping to convoy across the ocean Dominion troops on the way to fight side by side with French soldiers on the Western Front, and to Canadians, both English and French-speaking, the presence of French ships in the escorting fleet must have been- a welcome symbol of the Anglo-French solidarity upon which, rests the hope both of victory and of peaceful reconstruction when victory has been achieved.” The new arrivals were welcomed on behalf of their comrades already undergoing training here preparatory to going to Fance by Major-General McNaughton, G. 0.0. of the First Division of the Canadian Forces.

Addressing the Canadian troops after they had landed, Mr. Anthony Eden told them that their convoy had a special significance. They had been convoyed across the Atlantic by warshins of the French Navy acting in close co-operation with His Majesty’s ships. Careful arrangements in this important and difficult operation had been made in the most complete secrecy and had been carried out with equal success. “You wish me, I know,” Mr. Eden continued, “to express on your behalf as well as on our own our thanks to the French Navy for this great and signal service.” The commander of the Canadian Forces replied, and the troops cheered .Mr, Eden. They quickly entrained., A 8.8. C. observer, describing the arrival of the Canadians, said that they could be heard before they were seen, for their cheering, whistling and singing drowned the welcome from the land.

It is officially announced in Ottawa that the entire Canadian first division is now in the United Kingdom.