BLOW FOR EMPIRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 138, 15 May 1925, Page 12

BLOW FOR EMPIRE

ANZACS REMEMBERED. GREAT LANDING RECALLED. LONDON, April 24. Field-Marshal Sir William Birdwood, in an Anzac Day message, says: “I desire lo Send my most? sincere and heartiest greetings to the Government and people of Australia, especially to my old Anzac comrades.

“None of us regard keeping sacred tho memory of this day as fostering militarism but as a humble expression of gratitude to God for giving tio the men and women of Australia that magnificent courage and determination to uphold the right which were exemplified by those who gave their lives willingly and fearlessly on Anzac Day.”

Major-General Sir A. H. Russell, sends the following message:.

SURVIVORS WHO SUFFER.

“Greetings to eld comrades on me tenth anniversary. The fruits of the sacrifices then made have not yet been fully secured to the Empire. Those who fell rest peacefully confident that the survivors will, on a different stage, continue the tight for a better world. As dangerous to the race as the peril of 1914 are the unfortunate economic conditions at the heart of the Empire, involving the sufferings of many former comrades.

“It is urgently, necessary to reintroduce the spirit of a united front, to look on the Empire as a whole, and to do all in our power, individually and collectively, to remove these conditions by lessening the pressure of population in Britain. Mr Bruce’s speech at Sassafras was in the right spirit.” In a special Anzac Day message, Mr Ash-moad-Bartlett, M.P., war correspondent, writes: —

“I shall never forget the majestic start of the mighty squadrons from Mudros, silently steaming through the night towards an unknown destination.

“Dawn breaks and, like long snakes wriggling on the surface of the Mediterranean, boats containing the pick of Australia’s nnu New Zealand’s manhood set forth to strike the first mighty blow for King and the Empire. Then the crackle of rifles as they dash ashore, ushering in ten months’ incessant fighting which was destined to set the seal of fame on Aus tralia's and New Zealand’s sons for ever more.

“It was a touch and go that first night. “I vividly recall the scene on the narrow beach at midnight, with little Birdwood surrounded by his staff, amidst dead and wounded and piles of ammunition and stores that had been hastily dumped ashore.

“Groups of soldiers, often without officers, were striving to climb those hills and come to grips with the foe amidst a hail of bullets. The staff could do nothing. Tho men did everything, and nobly responded to the call.

“BIRDWOOD HELD ON.” “Even the stout-hearted Birdwood thought he would have to withdraw the corps before dinvn, and warned the transports. He then, consulted Sir lan Hamilton in a hastily-scribbled note, but a withdrawal would have meant disaster, and Birdwood held on.

“At 2 a.m. the first crisis had passed. The soldiers of the Crescent had failed to break Australia’s iron ring. Thus closed the proudest day in-Australia’s history, as well as one of the most glorious for the Empire. All honour to the gallant dead and to those who survive down south. “We didn’t take Constantinople, hut who dares say that these ' men died in vain ? They proved their worth and set a high example to the thousands who were yet to tread the blcedy trail in Egypt, Palestine and Flanders. .They forged bonds of steel, which have consolidated the Empire for ever, and won for • themselves everlasting renown in tho temple of self-sacrifice and glory.” “DRAMA AND GLORY.” General Sir lan Hamilion, in an interview, said: “American and European military writers and students have been fighting the battles of the western front over and over again for jten years. Now there are signs that they are beginning ot turn their attention to the Dardanelles.

“It is being realised in France, Germany, America and Greater Britain that nothing in the war’s history is more charged with drama and glory than this entry, sh’oulder-ro-shoidder, of the two young nations beneath the Southerif Cfoss into tho most ancient and romantic of all European battlefields.”

GALLIPOLI ADVENTURE. lAN HAMILTON’S SECRET. LONDON, April 25. “There was a brief period in April when I wavered as to whether u landing at Gallipoli was not a sheer impossibility,” said General Sir lan Hamilton in a speech at a banquet of the 29th Division to-day. “I have kept that 6ecret buried deep. There wasn’t the semblance of a chance of keeping our destination confidential. The Egyptian newspapers persisted in publishing details of the arrival of the troops, specifically stating that they were bound for the Dardanelles. . We had no pewer to restrain them. “It was my inspection of the 29th Division that finally steeled my heart to proceed with the landing.”

EMPIRE UNITY.

ACHIEVED AT ANZAC. LORD JELLICOE’S TRIBUTE. LONDON, April 27. “The spirit of self-sacrifice which Australia and New Zeainnd are inculcating in their children, in commemoration of Anzac Day, is much needed throughput, the Empire to-day,” said Ixird Jellicoe at an Anzac luncheon to-da.v. “If ever Empire unity was achieved it was when the Anzaes at Gallipoli cooperated with the Navy, and established a spirit of comradeship with the Imperial forces. Thenceforward, until tho Anzaes started their victorious push at VillersBretonneux, only ending with the Armistice. the Anzaes continuously . mode history. “The inscription on a memorial which I unveiled in New Zealand, ‘We died for Britain und have no regrets.’ symbolises the real Empire unity which alone can place the Empire on tho highest pinnacle of greatness, and establish the world peace, for which the Anzaes died. Sir Joseph Cook revealed tliat it was liis proposal, made in 1918, that a naval expert should visit Australia and New Zealand, to carry out a naval defence scheme parallel to Lord Kitchener’s land defence scheme, which developed into Lord Jcllicoe’s naval mission. The valuo of such missions world be justified in the future.