LATEST WAR NEWS

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 97, 26 April 1916, Page 8

LATEST WAR NEWS

ANZAC DAY IN LONDON

KING'S GRACEFUL ACT,

.GENERAL BIRDWOOD AND HIS

MEN

[Psess Association.! (Received April SCS. 1.80 n.ir..) I,ON DOTS', April 25. When leaving Westminster Abb->y .at her tho Anzuc service the K:i:ja noticed Trooper Geange, of the Sixth Wellington Mounted Rifles, lying ix>. ■ pillows" in on invalid carriage with, a shattered t^ine. His Majesty stepped aside, 'warmly shook hands witii tlie trooper, i.nd spoke words of sympathy to hnr.. lie then rejoined tho Queen. ■ The route-to ;the Abbey was crovvd•ed. Tho-Ooloiiials' fine, physique at~ tvacted '.univtvs'hl -'attention. The New * Koalanders vv-ei% headed by a St. Bor-r.ai-i dog, tli?ir mascot. Tlie Maoris r<=»ceived°au especially warm greeting. At the iiiiicheon in the Hotel C&cil ■ 800 Anzacs v/ere present. Oenera! Birdwood received an ovation, tho jTtea jumping on to their chairs and cheering him. . The General said that he was guvci to be associated with tho Australasian* for twenty months. Although ■not Australian'born he could claim tho privilege of being just as good— namely, an Anzac soldier. 'T hoi>e, lie. said "to command you for the | rest of the war." The world; had ■ /learned of tlie Australians and ftew Zoalanderr> at-hievements. at the lan<.tjno- at Lona Pine, at Hill GO, and at the'evacuation. The only complaints >vere from men who were not included in the foremost ranks. ■■..,■ ~ . . General. Birdwopd concluded by eiTiphasisiKg :the', importance of trainingand disoipUne/ Their .task was •:iidt yet finifihecL; ■'; ;_: •■ '*' -'-■''■