OBSERVANCE IN AUSTRALIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 26 April 1923, Page 5

OBSERVANCE IN AUSTRALIA

HEAVY RjfVIN IN SYDNEY (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association;. SYDNEY, This Day. Anzac Day was marred by continuous heavy rain during the forenoon, and Sodden conditions and frequent showers for the remainder of the day. Outdoor functions, including military and naval parades, were curtailed and robbed much of the display. Memorial services wero held at the cathedrals and most of the, churches. Other indoor functions were largely attended. Businesses were mostly closed. Crowds of bedrazzled people disconsolately, gathered under verandahs in the vain hope of the weather clearing, perforce solemnly observing the day. "Flags were half-masted till noon and were then full-masted. Hotels were closed for a couple of hours in. the middle of the day. In most of the country towns the day was celebrated under more favourable weather conditions.

Services were held iii all the principal city churches in Melbourne, but most of the shops remained open. Two minutes’ pause in all traffic was observed at mid-day, pedestrians standing bareheaded. A memorial service was also held at Pentridge Gaol, where General Chauvel addressed the prisoners. SYDNEY, This Day. Anzac Day was celebrated by comrnvr.ity singing patriotic national scngs at the Town Hall during the luncheon hour. SYDNEY, This Day. The Anzac commemoi'ation services were held in fine weather in all States except New South Wales and Western Australia, where most outdoor ceremonies were conducted with difficulty. The day was observed as a holiday in some cities, but notwithstanding the lack of uniformity in this direction the whole Commonwealth is in unison in solemnly demonstrating the affectionate remembrance of the Anzac sacrifices. It ■was intended in some quarters to divide the day into periods of sadness and gladness to mark the deed" «-fc Gallipoli and the consequent entry of _ Australia into nationhood ; hut the joyful celebrations were overwhelmed by the sombre impressive services for the dead. THE LANDING AT GABA TEPA LONDON, April 25. The Daily Telegraph editorial says that eight years have gone by since the dawn of that April Sunday when troops from Australia and New Zealand landed on the beach at Gaba Tepe. The landing made it clear beyond peradventure that against any danger threatening the united brotherhood of nations each would stand and fight to the last for the Commonwealth.

LONDON, April 25. Tlie Daily Mail’s Gallipoli correspondent reports that this Anzac Day finds many sights and sounds familiar to those who died there. The commemoration service will be attended by representatives of all branch os of tho army encamped op the Peninsula as well as tlie War Graves Workers. It will be the Army’s solemn farewell to its dead, as next year, if there is peace with Turkey, the .Peninsula will resume its native solitude apart f#om a few Turkish peasants and guardians of the graveyards. GATHERING AT CENOTAPH LONDON, April 25. The Cenotaph was a general gathering place of those who Honoured the Anzac dead in London, succeeded by a Memorial Service at St. Clement Danes, where Archdeacon Martin, of Sydney, who landed from the Ormonde three hours before, delivered an address.

Sir J. Cook presided at a. luncheon at the Australian and New Zealand Club, at the Hotel Cecil. The speeches rang with the glory of tli« Anzac deeds. The gathering round tho Cenotaph stood in drizzling while Empirewide tributes were laid at its base, fresh wreaths replacing the faded ones laid earlier in the week, glistened with the rain drops. Centremost was a large one of real Australian wattle, laid by the DowagerCountess Jersey on behalf of the Victoria League in Australia.