ARRIVAL OF TROOPS

Evening Star, Issue 23554, 18 April 1940, Page 6

ARRIVAL OF TROOPS

AN INSPIRING SCENE GREAT WELCOME FROM CROWDS . Stirring and inspiring scenes were . witnessed in the city streets late yesterday, afternoon when the special detachment of Dunedin members of the second echelon from Burnham camp, numbering 250 officers and men, under the command of Lieutenant-colonel A. Si -Falconer, paraded as a prelude to the big recruiting rally in the Town Hall. For some time before the special train arrived shortly before 4 p.m. large crowds began to assemble in the vicinity of the railway station, while : every available point of vantage was packed' with intensely interested spectators. The railway gates were closed until the men’s kitbags, had been placed on a lorry and the unit assembled in column, heaoed by the Burnham Military Band. When the gates swung open and the column debouched oh to the street, to the accompaniment of martial music from the band, a shout of welcome went up from the densely packed lanes of.citizens. The soldiers in their regulation steel helmets and full-dress kit presented a striking picture as they marched in perfect unison through the cheering crowd, and it was a dull heart indeed that was not stirred by this display. The column marched with perfect precision up to the Pioneers’ Hall, there to file inside the building and partake of a cheering cup of afternoon tea which had been prepared. Accompanying the men on their inarch was a flag-bedraped lorry fitted with loud speakers, from which a steady appeal was made to all fit and able young men to join the colours and assist in the task of putting down the tyranny of Germany. Crowds thronged the streets while the men were taking their refreshments, lining up along the route to the Octagon, where the salute was taken. The men were dismissed shortly after 5 p.m., and were then conducted to their billets by cars arranged for by the Automobile Association (Otagot. In the evening the men again paraded through the city streets, the lights glistening and reflecting from their steel helmets. This morning at 9 o’clock the men left hv special train for Invercargill, and will return north-to-morrow, passing through Dunedin about 10 45 a.m. OTHER RECRUITING RALLIES 1 < [Per United Press Association.] WESTPORT, April 17. A contingent of 200 officers and men from Burnham, under the command of Captain J. arrived on .the

Coast to-day oh a. recruiting tour. Fifty came on to Westoprt. A welcome ball was held in the evening, there being a very largo gathering. The mayor, Mr J. W. Robertson, officially welcomed the soldiers. Brief speeches were made by Captains Halley and Floyd, tho former stressing that New Zealand sent 88.000 soldiers away in 1914-18, and tie confidently believed if they were required a similar number or more would go forward in this war. He knew that the West Coast men in the matter of recruiting would not let their comrades down. AUCKLAND, April 17?*“ A statement that the Government is considering a course of action which would enaole men at present classified ,as temporarily unfit to qualify and to become fit for service with the forces was made to-night by the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) in aii address during the recruiting rally in the Town Hall. Mr Sullivan said that up to April 6 almost 33,000 men had registered for service. Of these nearly 16.000 had been despatched ’to camp. There were fit and available for use % further 5,582, and, in addition, there were 2,432 classified as temporarily unfit. It was these men the Government was now considering. , •