IN HONOUR OF FIRST ECHELON AND ITS ESCORT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 86, 5 January 1940, Page 10

IN HONOUR OF FIRST ECHELON AND ITS ESCORT

State Luncheon In Parliament House

CONFIDENCE IN SAFETY OF TROOPS WHILE ON WAY TO WAR

”Iu three tlavs I have seen every man and met every othcer of the first echelon; it was impossible for me in that short time to make a thorough inspection, but 1 will stake any military authority or reputation I may have in saying that I am personally satisfied that they will strive hard to maintain the traditions of the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force and I say, also, that they will not strive in vain.” This statement was made yesterday by Major-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., commander of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, at the luncheon given by the Government in Wellington in honour of the first echelon and its escort.

The naval representatives congratulated New Zealand on the part played by I I.M.S. Achilles in the engagement with the Graf Spec. Rear-Admiral J. G. Grace, of H.M.A.S. Canberra, said that the Achilles must be the envy of all sailors. Captain H. T. Baillie-Grohman. of H.M.S. Ramillies, said that the Achilles had “tipped the scales” in the engagement. The luncheon, given in Parliament House, was attended by a distinguished company of guests.

it seemed just a few days since tbe question of transport and convoy of New Zealand troops had been discussed with the War Office and the Admiralty, said the Minister of Education and Health. Mr. Fraser, in proposing the toast “Our Guests.” At these discussions it was recognized that the transport which was good enough 25 years ago was not up to tbe standard of modern requirements; the War Office had fully entered into that conception. As a result they saw today some of the finest ships afloat available for the transport of troops. At a rough estimate there was 124,500 tons of shipping now available for the purpose of conveying and protecting the men of the first echelon. . As it was but six weeks since these matters had been discussed it said a great deal for tbe organization of the British Commonwealth generally and the Admiralty and Ministry of Shipping in particular that in this period ships were readily available. Gathering of Great Ships. It was the first time a ship of tbe Ramillies type had visited New Zealand. The occasion was also notable for the fact that there were ships of the B. and O. Line, Orient Line, C.P.R. Line, New Zealand Shipping Company and British India Company in port. It was wonderful that these ships should be at the command of the Governments of the British Commonwealth and here at the service of the New Zealand Government. It was a great indication of the strength and solidarity of the Empire. That one of the battleships of the Royal Navy was here showed that the British Government appreciated the necessity of protecting the New Zealand soldiers. ' it showed also that if trouble ever threatened New Zealand or Australia —there was no sign of that at the present —such ships) would come to their assistance witli tlie same speed as the Ramilliest It was an indication that the people of both countries could look to tlie British Government to send out sufficient naval strength to protect them. /With all the modesty for which New Zealanders were noted, he did not underestimate the strength of the ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy; the Germans did not underestimate litis strength either. Major-General Freyiberg had been welcomed spontaneously and sincerely in New Zealand, and 1 there was not a discordant note as to his suitability to take command. Major-General FreyBerg had the confidence of all New Zealanders, and of those in control of the British Army. AU .must surely have felt who saw the parade of the previous day that, it was a tremendous world tragedy which would expose such young men to death and wounds, but they knew that such an event way precipitated by those who had no regard to human lives so long as their own domination was maintained and extended. This challenge had been made over a number of years, and now tlie British Empire and' France bad taken it up in the mime of civilization. The voice of New Zealand had been raised consistently in the League of Nations councils, against aggression, and now the country was acting, in tlie common cause, on the precepts which it bad advocated for years, concluded Mr. Fraser. Major-General Freyberg's Speech. Major-General Freyberg acknowledged tlie kind and flattering references made by Mr. Fraser to the ollieers and men of the first echelon, soon to sail, and himself. All who saw the inspiring parade of tiie previous day realized what, a fine, lit body of men these .oldieis of tlie first echelon Were. He was informed that there 'had been similar parades a't Auckland and in the sout h.

Of those who saw the parade possibly many took it for granted without realizing the tremendous amount of work done by the New Zealand Stall Corps under the line leadership of MajorGeneral Duigan: also the work done by the men of the citizen army who bud given up I heir lime and energy when military mailers were not so important as now. Without the work of these two sections it would not have been possible for such an efficient force as was seen parading the day before to be raised in so short a period. As commander of tlie Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force be was indebted to them for their work since tlie end of tlie Great War and now. He diil not think it was generally realized what a difficult job it was to flick commanders for the new force. There were in the New Zealand Staff Corps four men all perfectly tit to take each job. lie knew what it meant to professional soldiers to forge fhe material and then see it go away while they remained behind. Rut they had to stay because il was necessary to maintain the standard of the drafts that were to come; this was only fair to those who were going away. Young Commanders. Selecting officers in New Zealand at present was a difficult task. The Great War was more than 20 years past and those who had commanded companies and battalions in it were now reaching the extreme age limit of suitability as unit commanders. To show that it was realized that young New Zealand must be encouraged two officers under (lie age of 35 were being picked to command units in the third echelon. It was realized that in a war like the present one, youth must come through aud bear the brunt, and that those serving iu the ranks today must also come through

and be the coming commanders in the field. He was sure that the ollieers and men of the first echelon would live up to the great traditions of the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In regard to the complimentary remarks made about the Navy, MajorGeneral Freyberg said that no one more realized the worth of this arm of the service than the soldier. Rear-Admiral Grace said that his ship had been invited by the New Zealand Government to visit Wellington at about this time in connexion with the centenary celebrations, but in times of peace, when the invitation was extended, it was not found possible to accept because of commitments. Now, with the heavier commitments of war, here they were, so that this strangest of wars had its compensations. Envious Of Achilles. Despite their very short stay it was hoped to visit New Zealand again shortly, though lie feared these visits, too, would be brief. His ship was honoured to be associated with the New Zealand contingent for overseas service, and that it would have them in its safe keeping for part of tbe way. He was sure they would reach their destination without any difficulty. He would like to congratulate New Zealand on the magnificent action in which 11.M.5. Achilles took part ’, off Montevideo. Other ships in the Navy were naturally envious of her, not only from the fact of her being on tbe spot but also because of the way in which she carried out her duties. The Achilles must be the envy of all sailors. His ship hoped that it would not be long before such a chance came to it. As for the masters, officers and men of the transports, theirs was a job demanding constant skill and vigilance and from what he knew of the Merchant Navy, the troops would be safe in their hands. Captain 11. T. Baillie-Grohman thanked the people of Wellington for what they had done for the officers and men of his ship: they had been entertained magnificently. He mentioned specially the Under-secretary of the Internal Affairs Department, Mr. J. IV. Heenan, the mayor, Mr. Hislop, and the town clerk, Mr. E. I’. Norman. After seven weeks at sea, travelling at high speed, and with only two nights in harbour, this hospitality was most welcome. He associated the Ramillies with the remarks that had been made about the Achilles. What would have happened if the Achilles had not been there; she had tipped the scales, as it were. When his ship arrived at Fremantle, British sailors had not been seen there for so long that the inhabitants thought the Royal Marines were German prisoners of war I When the Ramillies was in one port a yachtsman in a 30-footer sailed up and called out "Some baby.” She was. Driven by 40,000 horse-power, she used 12,000 tons of oil fuel on the trip, and travelled 9500 miles at an average speed of 17 knots, with only two days in harbour. She had eight 15-inch guns, each of which was tbe length of a cricket pitch and fired a projectile weighing as much as a motor-ear. Christinas Day saw 110 turkeys demolished in five minutes and 88 Christmas cakes eaten. There was a complement of 1170 meu and 70 officers.

American ships of the size of the Ramillies bad been to New Zealand, and he hoped that after the wtrr there would be visits from such ships of the Royal Navy as the Ramillies. . The toast, of the British Empire's Allies, France aud Poland, was also drunk and the “Marrsellaise” was played. The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, was unable to attend the luncheon. Apologies were received from the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. .Sullivan, the Minister of Lands, Mr. Langstone, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Lee Martin, tlie Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb, and the Hon. D. Wilson. Ministers present were the Minister of Finance. Mr. Nash, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, and the Minister of Housing, Mr. Armstrong. The other invited guests were:—•

Lieut-Colonel 11. E. Avery. Mr. T. A. Barrow. Captain 11. T. Baillie- ■ Grohman, Sir Harry Batterbee, Mr. C. A. Berendsen, Captain AL B. it. Blackwood, Mr. C. M. Bothamley. Mr. R. Boulter, Hon. T. Brindle, Mr. L. B. Campbell.. Paymaster-Captain N. T. P. Cooper, Rear-Admiral J. G. Crave, Mr. C. E. Critehley, Mr. E. L. Cullen, Major-General J. E. Duigan, Mr. AL A. Eliott, Commander A. B. Fanshawe. Mr. C. A. Furlong. Mr. J. N. Greenland. Mr. T. D. 11. Hall, Hoti. A. Hamilton (Leader of the Opposition), Colonel J. I largest, Mr. J. W. Heenan, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, Mr. J. Hodgens, Captain A. Holland, Group-Captain L. M. Isitt, Mr. C. A. Jeffery, Mr. T. Jordan, Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., Paymaster-Commander E. 11. Leitch, Commander W. R. Leggat t, Mr. L. G. Lowry, Mr. Al. Al. F. Luekie, Lieutenant-Commander N. A. MacKinnon. Mr. G. 11. Atavkley, Air. A. D. Mclntosh, Mr. R. McKeon. Colonel O. 11. Mead. Mr. G. 11. Mendmoro, Mr. J. 1.. Menzies. Air. Al. Moohan, Wine Commander A. de T. Neville, Mr. R. 11. Nimmo, Sir Charles Norwood, Captain A. L. Owens, Captain W. R. Patterson, Air. J. T. Paul. Hom W, Perry, Air. W. J. Polson. M. Andre Bouquet, Captain Al. Price, Colonel E. Puttick, Mr. IV. T. Rao, Mr. F. W. Reed, Air. R. Riley, Air. -B. Roberts, Air. J. Robertson, Mr. W. J. Rogers, Group-Captain 11. W. L. Saunders. M". 11. Set!, Mr. F. Al. Sherwood, Mr. J. R. Smith, Colonel W. G. Stevens. Mr. C. Todd, Mr. T. R. Toovey, Air. J. O. Turcotte, Mr. IT. Turner, Mr. C. M. Turrell, Mr. F. P. Walsh, Air. J. T. Waugh. Mr. J. Willcox, Group-Captain T. Al. ’Wilkes.