VICTORY PARADE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 283, 26 August 1944, Page 6

VICTORY PARADE

Noon-Day Celebrations In Wellington ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD With sirens sounding, bells ringing and whistles shrilling at midday, Wellington yesterday joined in public celebrations throughout New Zealand of the spectacular success of the Allied arms in France and the Rumanian announcement of the intention to fight beside the Allies. They coincided with a flag-day appeal for patriotic funds in the capital. The largest crowd which has yet assembled at Victory Corner congregated in thousands to witness a military and patriotic parade, to hear brief addresses, and a musical programme. Her Excellency, Lady Newall, and representatives of the services were at the saluting base. Clear blue sky shone overhead and every vantage point in the beflagged city was occupied as the band leading the procession of medical, nursing and specialist units up Lambton Quay struck up the stirring notes of “The Marseillaise.” Tossed from windows- high above the street, paper rained down from high buildings in true Broadway style on to the mass of people below, and soon the streets were littered. Members of the Consular and Diplomatic Corps were on the official platform with representatives of the Government and the municipality. . Mr. H. F. Woods sang “The Marseillaise” and “Land of Hope and'Glory,” the crowd joining full-throatedly in the chorus. Virtual Liberation. The Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr. Skinner, who represented the Government in the unavoidable absence of the Prime Minister, said they were there to celebrate one of the most . eventful occasions in the war, the virtual liberation of Paris, the capital of France. (Cheers.) This was the greatest stride yet made toward final victory. The Gov ernment had felt that it could not allow this day to pass without celebrating in some small way not only the victory of our arms, but of the Free French forces who had fought side by side with our soldiers, and had met .the New Zealanders after driving up to Tunisia from Lake Chad under General Leclerc, just over a year ago. Those hardy sons of France had endured incredible hardships and suffering in their long desert march, and it symbolized their spirit that they were again in the van of the march on Paris. On behalf of the New Zealand Government, said the Minister, he offered thanks for the wonderful achievements. , “It is not victory. We still have a hard and arduous road to travel,” he added, “but it is a big step toward it. Every mniute that this war is prolonged means the waste of precious, lives. We must not, and dare not, relinquish our effort.” Spirit of Rejoicing. “The spirit of rejoicing which is in the air today is too great to. be described in any words of mine,” said the mayor, Mr. Appleton. “It is a spirit of joy with out reservation. I venture to prophesy that only two other days will equal it. and they are in, I hope, the not far distant future. Those days will be when the forces of the United Nations enter Berlin and Tokio.” (Cheers.) “It is not unfitting to point out that as far as we know today great battles lie ahead. Let us therefore add to our rejoicing a vow of renewed determination to prosecute the war effort to the utmost.” Cheers were given for the Free French and the National Anthem was sung. Subsequently the Police Pipe Band aud the Trentham Military Band played selections. There was a special noon-day programme, including “The Marseillaise,” from the national war memorial carillon.

Flags were flown aud bells rung at midday at Petone and Lower Hutt. Last night, at the latter place, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, addressed citizens from the balcony of the municipal chambers.