The New Zealand Times THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1926. LORD ALLENBY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12356, 28 January 1926, Page 4

The New Zealand Times THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1926. LORD ALLENBY

On landing at Auckland yesterday, Viscount Allenby described himself simply as a “tourist.’ - It is a sort of “incognito.” He wishes to be treated just as a tourist who is keen to see this beautiful country, the fond mother of the splendid men of New Zealand Whom he was proud to command in. his great days of Palestine. This “ipcognito” is, of course, impossible. The ordinary tourist is always unknown, and often remains unknown in spite of his attempts to- say great things about the country he has been in for not more than a few hours. In that sense we are, in our lives, all tourists, going through the world unknown, and sometimes unknowing. But men who have done great things before the world remain • always before the world, themselves without a cloud over their fine identity. Phis one has shone as a great soldier and a great proconsul. He may, in his modesty, put on any label he pleases, but we see him throughout at his best and highest. Lord Allenby has begun by helping that assumed mask of tourist to fall, lhat is the effect of the words in which he wrapped ■ his thoughts and in speaking at the Auckland reception. Everything he said stamped him as a man of great purpose, experienced in great matters, a doer of great things. We did ourselyes the honour the other day to sketch his career in the field of war and the pro-consular Cabinet. To-day his own words have given us the pleasure of sketching his character. He has seen the horror of war; he has passed through the dismal days of the aftermath of tremendous difficulties. Nevertheless, he is one of the truest optimists of the day. The war itself has taught him that permanent peace is possible, and such peace he holds to be a sufficient reward for all the troubles of the strife. He has heard the croakings of a destroyed commerce, and he is a strong believer that all those clouds are passing away; and particularly is he satisfied with the outlook in the country he has served so well. In the once-dreaded chaos of the nations he sees the British Empire emerging as a great world force, a peacecompeller. In these things he speaks as a master who has led men in war, and is leading men in peace. This we gather from his general talk, absolutely devoid of any trace of egotism. We recognise the Allenby who has done great service in the language of the “tourist” who only wants to enjoy a holiday. But we must riot do him the injustice of supposing that this is his only wish. He showed a great desire to meet the New Zealanders he had commanded in the war, whom he described as the very best under his command. And he did it like a soldier who knows troops and has never asked his men to face what he himself is not ready to face. These men who were his comrades will thrill at his praise, and they are glad of the return in kind his grand views of the Empire and the state of the world enable them to make. With him in cordial welcome is all New Zealand. Also in regret at the shortness of his visit.