SOLDIERS HOME FROM WAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16202, 12 April 1916, Page 8

SOLDIERS HOME FROM WAS

ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND.

TOTAL OF 339 INVALIDS.

CITY'S WARM WELCOME.

SPEECH BY SIR J. WARD.

The arrival yesterday of yet another overseas vessel bearing a largo contingent of sick and wounded soldiers back to the Dominion from' battlefields and hospitals on the other sido of the world roused anew tils war-interest of tho people of Auckland. The vessel was due to berth at the wharf early in the afternoon, and shortly after mid-day groups of men and women began to make their way down to tho largo shed where the civic teception was to tako placo at four o'clock. Tho early hours of the afternoon were spent in carrying out tho necessary details of the work of tho Baso Records Office and tho 'Medical Board.

Tho total number of soldiers on board was 339, and of those, 88 were for Auckland, three being cot cases. Thero were also six nurses aboard, two being survivors of tho Marquette disaster. Captain D. McLean was in charge of tho vessel, while Lieutenant-Colonel -1. S. Elliott. New Zealand Medical Corps, of Wellington, commanded tho men on board, and Captain M. E. Denniston, of Wellington, acted as adjutant. Reunions on the Wharf.

At about half-past three o'clock the moil filed off the boat into the reception-shed, specially decorated for the occasion. In the meantime, the crowd outside had grown considerably, and when, at® aquarter to four o'clock, tho fortunate possessors of next-of-kin passes were admitted to tho shed, a cheer went up from the waiting men. The scene that followed was one of pathos and gladness; on every hand were mothers and fathers and sisters and wives hurrying to and fro, looking eagerly'down the long rows of' khaki-clad men for the one familiar face. And when those glad reunions took place one could only turn away, realising afresh just what 6uch men and women had sacrificed in the one great cause. A babel of chatter rose as the men were claimed by their relatives, and happy little groups were to be seen everywhere up and down the long shed. This was ihe greet moment for whir*' they had all bee- U .vgiiig for vveeks and urothd past— the greatest m. \ient since the!) same nun had gone out in tho full strength of their manhood to do service for the Empire They returned war-wounded, pwhavi disabled. but strong in the pride of. their spirit, glad io hue 'cen -t'ntir place an v /\ fighting men. And this pride was reflecte-i on the faces of those who wplcomcd them, even in the faced of the tiny childwn they held close in >ndr arms.

Large Gathering at Ceremony,

Tho first greetings over, the welcoming ceremony commenced. At 4 p.m., . the Mayer of Auckland. Mr. J. H. Gunson, made his appearance on tho platform, seats on which were also occupied by Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., the Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister for Munitions, local members of Parliament, city councillors, and many other prominent citizens. The soldiers were accommodated on chairs immediately in-front of the platform, and a very large crowd took up the remainder of the space available in the shed.

At the call of the Mayor, three ringing cheers wero given for the returned officers and men, followed by another hearty three for the nurses who had attended to the men on their homeward voyage. The Mayor, in a brief address of welcome, said that their first greeting must be the old familiar words, "Welcome Home," and from the bottom of their hearts they gave utterance to that greeting. They welcomed these officers and men with pride, appreciation, and hope. The people of New Zealand were proud of the valour and prowess of their men in battle(applause)—and of the magnificent service rendered by them in tho cause of justice and freedom. He earnestly hoped that all of them might be speedily restored to health and strength. On bohalf of the citizens of Auckland he extended to them the very warmest of welcomes to the city. (Loud applause.)

New Ze&landers 1 Courage. A welcome to the men from the Government, and through it from the people of New Zealand, was extended by Sir Joseph Ward. They had to remember on such an occasion as this, he said, that New Zealand knew nothing of war before this titanic struggle commenced, and the response, voluntarily, of nearly 50,000 of their men to the call to cross the seas and join their kith and kin to fight for the freedom of humanity and the heritage bequeathed them by their toreiVher? was a magnificent achievement. the way the J-" \r "-slanders and tho*n from othe* paris oi i.i 3 British T )urai ..'"is had come forw had been referred to by 1 hose who understood what warfare was as magnificent. (Applause.) The New Zealanders/ Australians, Canadi •. m, and_ their friends from I'.lia hid >''cn ;!e highest encomiums, ana many tributes had 1 been paid to the, indomitable plucA of the sons of New Zealand who had gone out fo fipht tor their King aad country. (Cheers, t

• Some of the men before him had for tie first t.ri.e since they had been to Gallipoli met their mothers, wives, arid sinters. The deepest feelings of the heart wero very much in evidence, and were a testimony to what the women of New Zealand had gone through during the absence of their dear ones.

Allies Determined to Win. The allies were determined to win the world-wide war in which they were now engaged. At the start the British Empire was not ready—but to-day we were (Applause.) One of the singular things that history had taught them was that Great Britain was always slow for a time, but she invariably won the last battle. (Applause.) Speaking " to the returned officers and men the Minister said that when they left for the front there" was a doubt in the minds of the moat experienced men as to whether we were ready to fight the enemy in the air and under the sea. The won-'dc-'ful changes that had taken place lately had now given them complete confidence in the issue of the war. He received information recently that makers of aeroplanes had already been able to develop a speed in their machines of 250 miles. When these machines commenced to work they would begin to see that all the efforts and sacrifices that had been made had not been in vain. (Applause.) _ There must, in the long run, be a glorious victory for Britain and her allies. This was the spirit in which he was to-day welcoming tnem home. They had done what the most powerful statesman in the British Empire could not have done in 50 years— had drawn the scattered ties of kinship and blood so close together that at the close of the war there would result a close coordination of tho forces of the Empire. (Applause.) A Fine Example. They had also set a fine example to the men in New Zealand, who had not yet gone out to fight and he hoped that they would on their return to their homes in every part of New Zealand impress upon any and everyone that men are necessary to enable the final victory to be soon accomplished. Referring amid great applause to the nurses who had attended tho men, the

Minister said they , had done work which could never be ; forgotten- : tThere ■ were among them two" who had been on board the Marquette. These nr.rsis had added a glorious page to the history of the noblo deeds achieved by British women. So far as the present war was concerned, nothing was finer than tho work of nurses on behalf of humanity. The Maoris Eulogized.

Continuing, Sir Joseph Ward said that Now Zealand was unique in 0110 respect ] It bad a native race, members of which had gone out from time to time to tkke a store in the work of Empire-saving and Empire-building. They had done a. magnificent work, and. in combination with their white - brethren in this country, j would be referred to in history as men who had done their duty for the old flag and the Motherland. (Applause.) He would say to them, "Welcome! welcome! welcome!" The Minister, in conclusion, expressed the hope that, tho men would quickly regain their wontod vigour. Tho Prime Minister had asked him to apologise for his absenoe. He had greatly desired to be present to welcome them, but was prevented by his numerous duties. Tho, Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister for Munitions, also delivered a brief address of welcome. The Mayor read the following telegram, which ho had received during the afternoon, from the Hon. James Allen, Minister for Defence:" Would you please express my disappointment at not being permitted to bo with you to-day to welcome home the returned soldiers, and add my hope that, they may soon be completely restored to health, and enjoy to the full their homecoming." The combined singing of the National Anthem terminated tho reception. Tea was then served by members of the Women's Patriotic League. Southern Men Lsave. At about five o'clock jesterday afternoon the Queen's Wharf was again closed to the public, and the Southern, men re-embarked on the ship, no leave whatever being allowed them. At 6.30 p.m., when the public were again allowed on the wharf, a crowd numbering several hundreds assembled and carried on a lively conversation with the- invalided soldiers. Many littlo commissions, such as tho despatch of telegrams and letters to soldiers' relatives, were undertaken by those on the wharf. The boat was timed to sail early in the evening, but was delayed for threequarters of an hour, owing to tho nonappearance of several of tho ship's firemen. These eventually returned, however, and tho vessel drew out into the stream to the accompaniment of hearty cheers.