GENERAL BIRDWOOD'S VISIT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1862, 12 July 1920, Page 5

GENERAL BIRDWOOD'S VISIT.

CIVIC WELCOME IN SQUARE. RETURNED SOLDIERS GREETED BY OLD COMMANDER. General Sir arrived in Palrnerston Nor,, this morning punctually a ton o clock by motor-car from Wariw L will 11 ' 1 h0 ? off and the weather oi'X , ' a m \ ld breeze Wowing, the civic reception was beld in tho Square In waVTti " n " Bu «n»S manner the General hj ol I, ' r ,° Uffh -.. tho . gUrdcns umi cordially Nash W, «»e M ayor (Mr j / w I-' ¥- 1 i,."" d Colonel MelvilL O.C ColonefS? Mll " ,lrj ; DistHct ' afto Colonel Burgess who was unavoidably abi uty T at Tfontham, and was produced to the .Borough Councillors, uoW ° f ,r Kaira «ea County Council and other public men, including Mr B J Jacobs president of tho Returned Soldiers' Association. The Palrnerston North Muni in Jee • an , (l a «' murtor of returned tn were lined up ,n front of the rotunda, and there was n small crowd of the general public grouped around. The General was .mu,ed l; ,tel v conducted to the rotunda whore chairs were provided, and tho band truck up the National Anthem. Cheers for the King- and a further salutation to the General followed.

TOWN'S WELCOME VOICED. The Mayor then rose and, addressing Jo distinguished visitor, extended a Corel mlwelcome from the people of the town of Palrnerston North and district. The small attendance of the public was regiettable, but," added tho Mayor facetiously, we are in a land of prosperity and consequently don't get up so early in he morm„g S .> Th(i townspeop , oj •„,, tinned Mr Nash, were honoured to have so distinguished a soldier as a visitor. The work General Birdwood had accomplished on Gallipoli and in France would never be forgotten, neither would the great kindness he had always shown to the men under Ins command. The whole of the population ot Now Zealand were glad to have the opportunity of paying a tribute to General Birdwood Everyone felt and knew that

it ho war had engendered a comradeship that would holp to bring the Empire closer together. The General had said many flattering things about the New Zealand soldiers in the course of his trip through the Dominion, "and," said Mr Nash, "wo thank you very much for them, but we have no hesitation in saving- that they deserve then all. We are proud that the country was able to respond to'the callno less than 10 per cent of the population donning- khaki. The loss was very great, but we feel that the sacrifice has not been ; U1 i Va r' n 'i Y° lo ° lc Wlt '' no ''° to ,nc f »t<irc and feel that the period of reconstruction that is facing us will be safely accomplished, and that once done we will feel that the war has been for the benefit of mankind.

" In New Zealand you will see some of the best agricultural land in the world, and we feel that the country has a great I future before it, in which the returned soldiers are playing- a very important part. I He trust that your visit to this little eoun:|try of ours has been a very great pleasure to yourself and Lady Birdwood and vour little daughter. We also hope that when the time conies for you to leave these shores you will carry away the pleasantest of recollections of the people you have met here." (Applause). THE SOLDIERS' AFFECTIONATE REGARD. "As I occupy no official civic position, it is not for mo to add to or oven endorse the expressions of welcome by the Mayor," said Mr B. J. Jacobs, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, "but, on this occasion 1 do represent one portion of the community—the soldiers, who J am sure occupy just as big a place in the regard of . our distinguished visitor as he does in ! theirs. On most occasions when I have to speak for the men I feel more or less equal j to the task, but 1 have looked forward to this event with misgivings. I feel that I cannot give adequate expression to the feel- j : ings of the men as regards their distinguished leader. A nation can give expres- | . sion to its regard by tho bestowal of honours, and if your ambitions were in that direction, then they have been realised, but us poor "mortals can only convey ours by mero vocal expression. If it was another of your ambitions to have won the goodwill, unstinted admiration and love and affection of the men you led so ably—then also your ambitions have been more than realised and you stand on the very summit . of their regard. My job in the army did not entail meeting Generals and I cannot claim any personal acquaintance with you, j but it was my privilege to live with the ' men who are known in this war at least, ' as Diggers ! The greatest encomium they , could pass on anyone was contained in ' three little words—"He'll do me," and tho best that I can say and the highest compli- | ment that I can pay you from the Diggers ] is to say: 'You will blinking- well do us.' | (Applause and laughter). On behalf of the men I wish you success and the heartiest of welcomes to this little part of tho Dominion." Colonel Melvill welcomed the General on behalf of the Staff and as an old cam* . paigner with him on Gallipoli and in France. He expressed a hope that General , Birdwood would on his return to England J receive one of the highest commands in the ', i British Army. On the Colonel's call three cheers were lustily givon for the General. , GENERAL BIRDWOOD'S REPLY. , Applause greeted General Birdwood as ) he rose to speak. After addressing him- • self to the Mayor, ladies and councillors in 1 the stand, the General spoke to the assem- ' blage as "old Diggers, comrades, and other < gentlemen." "I am glad to have tho * Diggers so near to me," said the celebrated ' officer. "They were near to me when the ' fighting was on and I would like to have ' them near to me for the rest of my life." ' The General went on to express his plea- ' sure at seeing two Maori war veterans — ' Captain Preece and Major Garner—in the • assemblage. All would agree that the same ' spirit which actuated the soldiers in the 1 Great. War animated their predecessors in the Maori wars. ( "I have feelings of real affection for my ' old comrades," said the General, "and I ! believe that now they are back in their ' New Zealand homes they are proving themselves to be just as good citizens as they ! were soldiers." They should bo loyal to - one another, he continued, and loyal to J whatever Government was elected by tho ' free will of the people. The one word 1 "comradeship" should be their watchword. ' Labour troubles were facing every country ; in the world, but if every one would still maintain the spirit of real friendship that j pervaded the forces abroad, it would go a long way towards setting all the troubles ri'dit. Throughout, he had endeavoured to servo" the men ho led as they served him, loyally and well, and ho had always en- : deavoured to inculcate tho same spirit in the officers under his control. If employers [ and employees were regarded as officers and men and that same spirit of serving one another was maintained, the aspect would be brighter. It was a revelation to see what a fair land New Zealand was, after seeing the appalling slums in the coal producing areas of England To see each working man with a small house of Ins own and space for a garden so that he could live tho life of a human being was pleasing indeed. People only had to visit the Old Country to realise what strides New Zealand was making in the path of nrogross Those who had soon the boys awav and watched them return would realise that thev wero the better for the exDorienco Their horizon had been expanded their minds broadened by serving shoulder to shoulder with tho men of Australia Canada, England, and all the other countries that form the great commonwealth of nations of tho British Empire. "There is one thing that I will always cherish and keep before me for the rest of ny life and that is the figure of the Anzac soldier," said the General. Ho had watched them climbing the steep hills of Gal .- „oli and seen them trudging through the mud of France. It would always remain a pleasure to him to go a long way to shake he hand of any one of those lads. Ihe eallantry of tho soldiers was beyond pra.se admittedly, but tho final factor in tho ult • mate triumph was the steadfast and high morale of the people of the nation Ludendorff had admitted in his book, which was really a recital of excuses for losing tho war ' that defeat had been brought about bv tho broken war will of the German people. The General paid a tribute to tho work of thoso at home—the Y.M.C.A., Salvation Armv, Red Cross, and other institutions and bodies that helped the soldiers with comforts and other aids. Ho was expressing tho opinion of the whole of his

comrades when ho extended the most grateful thanks to nil 'hose who had holped. As to the prosperity of New Zealand, ho certainly agreed with'the Mayor's remarks, but he had imagined that the prosperity was duo to the people getting up so early—(laughter). AT QUINN'S POST. Referring again to the returned soldiers the General observed, " I know some of them will say, ' Don't you remember the last time we met?'" Recently a "Digger" had asked him that question, and he had replied that he could not call the meeting to memory, and the following dialogue ! ensued.

Digger: Well you ought to then. Last time we met was at Quinn's Post and you put your foot right on tho middle of my (stomach. You were coming down the trench at night. General: 1 am sorry that I can't remember the time. It must have made a. deeper impression on you than it did on me—(laughter). As it wa9 night time, though, I would not have seen you, though I might have remembered your voice if I heard it. Digger: Yes, you would have heard it, only you put your other foot in my mouth —(laughter). The General then turned to a number of

school children. " Hands up those who would like a holiday,'' he said. Every hand was shot in, the air. The children fixed the day for Wednesday in order to see the football match and the Mayor promised to see that the holiday was granted. The band once more sounded the stirring strains of tho National Anthem, and the General descended from the rotunda and shook hands with the returned men. After meeting a mimkr of returned soldiers in front of tho Rotunda,' the General proceeded to tho Manawatu Club, where he was introduced to several leading townspeople, and members of the local Defence Headquarters Staff, He then went to -ho Returned Soldiers' Club, where he was conducted through tho building by the Mayor and president of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association (Mr B. J. Jacobs). From tho Club, the General motored down through the Esplanade, where.he alighted; and sauntered along a number of the walks, admiring the scenery. Die party motored from the Esplanade to Anzac Parle, and thence back to the Grand Hotel to lunch.

ENTERTAINED AT LUNCHEON. At mid-day the General was entertained at luncheon by the Borough Council. A number of prominent.citizens were present. The toast of the General was proposed by L'r. E. H. Crabb and enthusiastically honoured. Replying-, the General spoke in complimentary terms of municipal enterprise in Palmerston North. The handsome Square and public parks, ho said, all indicated the Tact that the fathers of the town realised the necessity for making- ample provision for fine, open, breathing- spaces when Palmerston North grew into the big industrial town it was destined to become. The Soldiers' Club was a very fine structure and I he was glad to see the returned men stood so highly in the estimation of the townsI people. The General paid a tribute to Mr I Mcllardy's philanthropic action in connection with the building. Nothing was too | good for the men to repay them for all they i had done. It had been said that Gallipoli was a failure. It certainly was in the respect that tho object of forcing- the Dardanelles had not. been achieved, but as a ! means of destroying- the flower of the Turkish army it was a success. No words could recompense parents for the loss of a son on the hills of Gallipoli, but it might help to soften the poignancy of their grief if they could be assured that Gallipoli was not wholly a failure. The foundation was laid there for General Allenby's victories in Palestine. As an Intelligence Officer ho had had a man on Gallipoli who was now Chief Commissioner in Constantinople and he had discovered proofs that the Turkish troops regarded the front on Gallipoli as a veritable slaughterhouse. As time "pressed the General made, his reply as brief as possible and hurried away to catch the Napier express at one o'clock.

The General explained that the brevity of his trip and the uncertainty of his movements had been due, to the vagaries of .steamers. He had finally secured a berth on the Argyllshire'after considerable vexatious trouble. >•■;_■•

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. "FAVOURITE WITH ALL MEN." " A man who is a favourite with all men.'' It was thus that General Birdwood was described by a writer in " Men and Women of To-day," in 1914, shortly beforo ho was appointed to the command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, which was welded together as a ' distinct fighting unit under his guidance on the desert sands of Egypt, and later was to embark on "the great, adventure" in attempting to force the passage of the Dardanelles. The writer stated the truth, for it is doubtful if ever a. man by his line, commanding personality, his geniality, and his marked ability for leadership, won his way quicker to tho hearts of men than the distinguished soldier who arrived in Palmerston North this morning. General Birdwood not only won that regard; _ what is a great deal more, he retained it.

Fifty-live years old, he is one of tho very small class of officers known as "Kitchener's men." After passing through Sandhurst, he served on the north-west frontier of India against tho Ilazaras, and later against the Afridis and Orakzais in the Tirah campaign, being present at the famous action of Dargai. Ho was promoted captain in 1896, and, when tho Boer War broke out three years later, he became a man of mark, being appointed Chief Cavalry Staff Officer on the late Lord Kitchener's staff. In that capacity ho came into frequent, contact with the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Contingents, and was pronounced then by all who had the privilege of knowing him as "an exceedingly good man with great experience and tact." He participated in most of the big engagements in tho South African War, and at Lydenberg he was severely wounded, and had his horse killed under him. He emerged from the campaign with tho brevets of major and lieutenantcolonel, arid was placed on the list of officers considered qualified for staff employment. Henceforth he was on the road to military distinction. After employment at. the War Office he was made assistant military secretary and Persian interpreter to the East Indian com-mander-in-chief, a position which he held until 31st August, 1904. when ho was appointed assistant adjutant-general at headquarters in India. Vacating the post of A.A.G. in December, 1905, Colonel Birdwood [his promotion having come on 26th June) took up the duties of military secretary to the commander-in-chief in the East Indies, and he continued to act in that capacity until June, 1909. with n brief interval— 10th May to 3rd June, 1908—when lie was "mploved as chief staff officer to the Mohamand field force, and took part in the operations again on the scene of his early triumphs—the North-West frontier of India. He fought at Kaigha, and, besides being mentioned in the despatches, added another medal and clasp, in addition to gaming the Distinguished Service Order. In the middle of 1909 he became brigadier commander (colonel on the staff) in India, and took charge of the Kohat Brigade of ihe Northern Armv with the temporary rank of brigadier-rrenr-ral. He became a majorgeneral in 1912 and was made a. full general in 1913. General Birdwood was made an aide-de-camp to the King in 1906, C.E.I, in 1903, and C.S.I, in 1910. With the outbreak of the Croat War and the arrival of the Australian Forces in Egypt, the question arose of placing them under a suitable commander, who would not onlv lead them to victory but would win their confidence as a man. This commander was found in General Birdwood, who thus became the leader of the Anzacs, and so soon was to rise into fame as ihe "Soul of Anzac" itself. All Australians and Now Zealanders are familiar with the story of the Anzacs. of their inspiring deeds of bravery and silently endured hardships, and of tho part which General Birdwood himself took in bringing about the. unbelievably successful evacuation. After the Gallipoli campaign General Birdwood commanded an Australian Corps in France and finally rose to the position of an .Army Commander. The New Zealand Division never actually came under his personal command on the Western front, but the spirit inspired by "the Soul of Anzac" remained with them nevertheless, and like the Mounted Rifles Brigade in Sinai and Palestine they won a name which was not oven second to that of Anzac itself. General Birdwood married in . 1894 Jeannette Hope Gorvillo. eldest daughter of C'olonol Sir B. P. Bromhead, fourth baronet, late commandant of tho Punjab Pioneers, who himself had seen considerable active eerviee,