AMBASSADORS OF PEACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19094, 12 August 1925, Page 16

AMBASSADORS OF PEACE.

FOSTERING FRIENDSHIPS.

VIEW OF ADMIRAL COONTZ.

PRIME MINISTER'S WELCOME,

[by telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday

A civic reception was accorded Admiral Coontz and his principal officers at the Town Hail, which was well filled. The proceedings were enthusiastic. The Mayor, Mr. C. B. Norwood, presided and on, the platform were Commodore Beal, General Melvill and staff, the Prime Minister, Hon. J. G. Coates, the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, Sir Joseph Ward, the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, and members of the City Council.

The Mayor extended a warm welcome to the_ vioiiuis on oehail ol the oiuzens.

The Prune Minister was accorded a warm jeeepuun on this ius tirst appearaiice at a puoiic gathering in Wellington, lie tiade the visitors a hearty welcome tu the name oi the peoplo oi New Zealand, lie assured them they wouid tind themselves among friends. Ameiieans not long ago were helping the bruiah people in time of trouoie. He himseil had served with the Americans at the front and had learned to know them. Now they would have an opportunity of getting to know us and to develop the same friendship that had been formed between Americans and New Zealanders in France. New Zealanders appreciated the many acts of fiiendship our men had received at the hands of the people of tho United States a few years ago. The Mayor read an apology from, Mr. T. M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, who was unable to attend through indisposition, but conveyed an expression of welcome to the visitors. Preserving Civilisation. Sir Robert Stout said the American and Bri.ish Nations both cherished the same ideals to preserve civilisation, which could only be accomplished by maintaining peace. Canada and the United States lived in peace without armed forces. Why, he asked, could not the nations of Europe do the same? In conclusion, he welcomed the visitors as typifying a national force bent on the maintenance of the peace of the world.

Stout's remarks, welcomed Admiral Coontz and his officers because he believed the day was fast coming when the British and American Nations would be engaged in a movement to join all peoples in one great union for peace and goodwill, which was the aim of the Labour Parties of the world.

Admiral Coontz was greeted with applause. He said his men had been spoken of as ambassadors of peace. He could assure his hearers that those 25.000 men would prove to be ambassadors who would make.known these southern lands and the friendliness of the people therein to their own people when they returned home.

The Right Impression. Many were making their first trip abroad. They weie intelligent and took an interest in what they saw and would take away the right impression of New Zealand. People in America sometimes looked at the map and thought New Zealand was a long way of!. It was so in the day of sailing ships, but that was altered now. With improved communications New Zealanders had wonderful opportunities. They could study history, note the mistakes made by older countries and so build up their nation that it would avoid making similar mistakes. "We are a peaceful nation,*' said Admiral Coontz, "but we believe in peace with honour." Americans believed in visiting other countries. By so doing they discovered other people were not so very different from themselves and that a better understanding of each other would lead nations into the ways of peace. Ho thanked those present for the warm welcome accorded him and his men, who would all carry away with them the most pleasant memories of their sojourn in these waters.

DESTROYER SQUADRON.

LYTTELTON SECTION.

FINE WEATHER WELCOME.

YOUTHFULNESS OF SAILORS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday.

Preceded by the cruiser Omaha, the United States destroyer squadron entored Lyttelton Harbour this morning, being greeted by thousands of people and brilliant sunshine. Seaplanes hovered overhead. *

The berthing took up a little time, but soon the whole squadron was tucked cosily within the moles. The youthfulness of the sailors was the subject for genera! comment, the public not expecting to find such a large number .apparently under the age of 21 years. The trip across from Melbourne was a good one. The first official call on Bear-Admiral F. Schofield after tho Omaha was berthed was made by representatives of tho Lyttelton Harbour Board. "Wo had a fine trip across—splendid," said Admiral Schofield, " and then this glorious sunshine at the end of it and these picturesque mountains flanking your fine port." Calls were also paid by the Mayors of Christchurch, Lyttelton and Sumner, and Colonel Young, and these were subsequently returned. Shore leave was given early in the afternoon and the town was thronged with sailors, a number of whom found their way out to the races. This evening a civic reception was accorded the officers. A lengthy programme ha 3 been mapped out for the entertainment of the visitors.

HOTELS SEEK TRADE.

SOME HUMOROUS BAITS. [BY TELEGRAPH. SPECIAL RETORTEU. ] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Tho day has not been without its humorous aspects. It is noticeable that many hotels have large welcoma signs over their doorways. One licensee displays two large portraits of Admirals Jellicoo and Coontz respectively, with an inscription stating that he,himself is "late of the Royal Navy." Another hostelry announces "welcome to the boys," and as further to emphasise that the Dominion is not "dry," a local brewery this afternoon sent round the city a lorry bearing a huge replica of a bottle of stout and two men who distributed nip bottles of the said stout gratis to the public. As it happened, there were then very few Americans at hand to partake of tho bounty.