ANZAC SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16215, 28 April 1916, Page 6

ANZAC SERVICES.

MALTA AND EGYPT. FLOWERS ON THE GRAVES. London, April 26. At St. Mark's Church, Alexandria, Egypt, there was a large congregation on Anzac Day, and a simple and touching commemoration service was held. At Malta an impressive memorial service took place at the Pieta cemetery, where many Anzacs are buried. The graves were hidden under masses of flowers and wreaths,. the latter bearing touching inscriptions. The senders included many Anzacs who are recuperating in Malta. AUSTRALIAN MEMORIALS. STATE OBLIGATION. Sydney, April 27. Referring to Anzac Day, Mr. C. J. Wade, Leader of the New South Wales Opposition, said the collection for a memorial was disappointing, but ho asked the soldiers not to be discouraged, as the obligation rested on every Government to provide a memorial at the expense of the State.

SEAL UPON MANHOOD.

AMONG OUR FIRST DAYS,

Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received April 27. 6.20 n.m.)

London, April 27.

The Times, in a leader, says: " When they landed at Gallipoli the Australians and New Zealandcrs set the seal upon their people's manhood and widened the door, already opened by the Canadians, to a new life) for British people throughout, the Empire. No mishap or disagreements can break the brotherhood and partnership of our peoples, cemented by nobility and mutual admiration. Englishmen welcomed the chance of expressing loyalty to and passionate admiration of our fighters. The opportunities for such demonstrations should be more frequent. Australians in London set an excellent example, which should bo followed when occasion offered. I

The Globe says: " Anzac Day stands henceforth among our first days, engraved with sacrifice and wrought with imperishable glory." Other journals advocate that Anzao. Day be annually celebrated in England.

ONE OF FRANCE'S HEROES.

TRADESMAN'S BRAVERY.

THE "UNDERGROUND RAILWAY." In a General Army Order, General Joffre brings to the knowledge of France tho heroic behaviour of Camilla Eugene Jacquet, a tradesman of Lille. Condomned to capital punishment by the Germans and executed in the Lille Citadel 'on September 22, 1915, for having harboured, hidden, and given help to French soldiers, and having helped them to escape, he died as a hero with his hands free and his eyes unbandaged, crying "Vive la France! Vive la Ropubbquo!" For months this middle-aged wine merchant, acting merely on the dictates of duty, devoted himself to establishing an " underground railroad"" for many officers and men who succeeded in hiding in cellars when Lillo surrendered in October, 1914. Day and night M. Jacquet was aided by his daughter. For weeks he fed his dangerous guests, who, as occasion arose, were guided by a Belgian professional smuggler across Belgium, and reached Franco via England.

Among extraordinary exploits of this heroic man was the saving of a flightlieutenant, who on March 11, 1915, with two other airmen, dropped bombs on iho German wireless station at Lille. Two machines got back safely to their lines, hut fine- was forced to come down at '<hi gates of Lille. When German motor mitrailleuses reached the spot the machine was in flames, but no trace could be found of the airman. A battalion of infantry searched the countryside for miles arounl without discovering him. It was % 5.30 p.m. when the airman was forced down, and in spite of the swarm of German patrols looking for him "y eleven o'clock that night he was drinking tea at the Jiicquet house. For a fortnight the officer remained in the bouse, and on March 28 he started off, accompanied by Mdlle. Jacquet and the Belgian smuggler, for the frontier. When leaving his guide the officer said: " I owo you a calf; I hope to see you again soon." True to his promise in less than a month, on April '<s2 he flew over Lille and dropped tho following message:—"Lieutenant presents his respects to the commander of the German forces in Lille and regrets not having been able to make his acquaintance during his pleasant stay in the neighbourhood." The officer was accidentally killed in August, last, but his constant flights over Lille and tho story of his escapo will make him live long in the memory of the townspeople.