ANZAC DAY.

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1929, Page 5

ANZAC DAY.

lAN HAMILTON. On the Landings. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, April 25. Sir lan Hamilton, proposing the toast of the Twenty-ninth Division at the Gallipoli Day dinner, said he hoped that rhe evidence taken by the Dardanelles Commission would soon be published. He raid:—

“Only very slowly is the complete story of Gallipoli escaping the censor’s clutches. However, the first volume of the official history published to-day looks well. Encouraged thereby, we may hope the evidence before thd Commission may be allowed to see the light. The public imagine that they have seen the evidence, because they have read the Commission’s report. They haven’t. It gives us priceless information of a character unobtainable elsewhere.” Sir lan Hamilton contrasted dining amid all the refinements of civilisation, beside the survivors of the incomparable Twenty-ninth, with the circumstances of the landing. He cited desperate moments in his long military career, and said that nevertheless the landing stood alone as Something quite different.

(Received April 26 at 5 5 p.m.) LONDON, April 25. Continuing his address, Sir lan Hamilton said: “The date 24th of April mnd the Twen 4 y-ninth Division not only defy, but thrive upon, the passage of time. Yet, even while I speak of war as an adventure, I may be singing the swan song of that side of its existence. Static wars of trenches, with barbed wire, flame throwers*., and poison gas will never poison civilisation. Ex-servicemen won’t have Remarque’s wofrk, “All Quiet on the Western Front,’’ has definitely killed it. The author deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for ten years in succession. When all this immense war literature has been shaken down sufficiently in the siege of time, there will remain one big, soft, shining ruby caught in its meshes, namely, the landings at Gallipoli.”

REMARQUE’S BOOKA GERMAN’S GRIM EXPOSURE OF WAR. (Sun Cable.) LONDQN, April 26. Hern Erich Maria Remarque’s book, to which Sir lan Hamilton referred, hus had a remarkable run, a-quarter of a million copies of it being sold in Germany in six weeks. An admirable English translation by an Australian, Mr A. H. Wheen, has been widely read and reviewed in Britain. Herr Remarque was an eighteen-year-old schoolboy, who volunteered with his entire class, and served for the duration of the war. He saw his schoolmates slain one by one. The book is a stark, yet gripping autobiographical record n f the agonies of the German private soldiers’ trench life. It is sometimes revolting in its coarse simplicity, carrying the stamp | of 'truth in every line.

London Memorial Services LONDON, April 25. Impressive ceremonies characterised Anzac Day. A memorial service wa.hi Id at Saint Clement Danes, which contained gorgeous floral decorations. Sir J. Parr was present. Rev. Mr Kordon, a be-medalled Australian padre, preached emotionally, declaring that

“Anzac gleams like an altar on the highway of time'.” The High Commissioners led a procession to the Australian war shrine in the church, where wreaths were laid. The Anzac hymn was sung.

The Cenotaph ceremony follow’d. Thousands looked on, and traffic was held up. Earl Jellicoe placed first an iced-wreath of New Zealand wild flowers, on behalf of the New Zealand Returned Soldijers. A French officer laid a Flanders poppy-arum lilies wreath ‘ * from old French Dardanelles comrades.” Sir J. Parr and Sir H. Byie placed wreaths on behalf of their Govenmcnts. Thousands filed past the Cenotaiph making a reverent inspection of the magnificent wreaths. FEDERAL CAPITAL’S NATIONAL MEMORIAL. CANBERRA, April 25. There was a noteworthy gath fring at the Federal Capital, when the Go-vernor-General laid the foundation stone of the Australian war memorial, which will be of a majestic character, in the presence of a detachment of returned men, with a Guard of Honour from the Royal Military CollegL“, the Prime Minister and heads of churches. The ceremony wae followed by a devotional service which was broadcast throughout Australia.