THE BATTLE OF UXBRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 150, 25 June 1921, Page 9

THE BATTLE OF UXBRIDGE

LONDON, 12th June. Mr. W. F. MasseyMeft Oxford by • motor-oar at midnight, accompanied by Mr. F. D., Thompson (secretary), Mr. H. T. B. Drew (assistant-secre-tary), and Colonel Grigg. . . When approaching Uxbridge, at 2 • o'olook, they were suddenly confronted by an obstruction extending aoross the road, -surmounted by red lights. ■: Half-. . ■'■ a-dozen policemen appeared, and many others remained in the background. They cross-questioned Mr. Drew, who was seated beside tho driver, examined the driver's papers, and inspect- : "ed the oar front and baok, and noted the registered number. Mr. Thompson explained^'that the party inside the car included the Prime Minister of New Zealand. . . . After ten minutes' delay the polioe removed the obstruction, smd the car proceeded to London. . . . Mr. Massay was interested, but not disturbed; by the incident. — Australian - New Zealand Cable Association. "The boy stood on the burning deck Whence all but he had fled." . ■ Had he been on the Uxbridge road ■ Where th* lights were flaring red, He must have turned his little tail. Or lost hia little head. "Speak, father, once again," he cried, ' ■ "If I may yet be gone." v •Not for the dearest father's leave Would ho have lingered o», ■ Had he been on the Urbridge road Where the fearsome red lights shone. ■ • New Zealand's. leading statesman Of much sterner stuff is made; He calmly faced the dangers .> Where the blood-red death-lights played; • At dead of tight he came, h« saw, He conqnered undismayed. , Red beacons on a barrier black / . Delay the Premier's car; Armed to the teeth, policemen1 stand "Its further way to bar, While through the gloom fierce bulle - eyes fling _ ' ' • I Their : challenge from afar. From stem to stern the car they scan, Those ruthless men in blue; They con the chauffeur's papers, and They question Mr. Drew. ( "Shall we wipe the whole lot out? said they, ; "Or shall we let them through?' "Ready! present!" their leader oried, Obedient to command A murderous baton flashed in air 'In each policeman's hand ; _ A thousand rifles took their aim At Massey's gallant'band. Thompson's cool nerve availed to check : The threatened stream of lead. "Forbear," he said; "we have inside The Premier of N.Z.!" Amazed, abashed, the men in blue AH tinted a guilty red. A thousand helmets rose in air; A thousand rifles fell; .- A thousand cheering throate sent up 1 A rousing British yell. Dashing the barrier down, they said, "Go on, for ail is well." On sped the car, and in due course To' London..safely came; ' . And there the news of its escape Set the whole town; 'aflame.' England shed tears of joy and pride; New -Zealand did 'the; same., 6 crimson lights of Uxbridge! 0 deedis of derring-do!----0 men of Crecy, Agincourt, ", Trafalgar, Waterloo! Men of the Marne, the Aisaie, the Sornme, And gallant Anzacs too! Heroes of every great exploit From China to Peru, From Greenland's icy mountains . To the plains of Timbuctco! Scorn not to share ypur laurels With the dauntless happy few — Massey, P. 0.-, Grigg, D.5.0., Frank Thompson, Herbert Drew — Who bravely broke that black baJTrago i' And beat the boys in blue. AJAX. 20th, June, 1921.