“I NEVER WANT A BETTER ARMY UNDER ME THAN THE NEW ZEALANDERS I HAD IN PALESTINE”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12356, 28 January 1926, Page 5

“I NEVER WANT A BETTER ARMY UNDER ME THAN THE NEW ZEALANDERS I HAD IN PALESTINE”

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, January 27. The scene at the civic reception to Viscount and .Viscountess Allenby was a memorable one. The Town Hall Concert Chamber was packed, and as the visitors appeared on the platform they were accorded loud and prolonged applause. In introducing Lord and Lady Allenby to the audience, and welcoming them to Auckland, the Mayor (Mr G. Baildon) said that the city of Auckland had on occasions been privileged to welcome within its gates illustrious representatives of the Empire’s Navy and Army, amongst whom in this connection occurred to him the names of Viscount Jellicoe and Earl Kitchener, but it was the first time, he thought, that Auckland had had the pleasure to 'extend a most cordial welcome to a field-marshal of the British Army. (Applause.) Mr Austin Carr, president of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, also extended a warm welcome. “AMONGST OLD FRIENDS" Loud applause and cheers greeted Lord Allenby as he rose to reply. “I never felt how wide and how united is the British Empire till to-day,” he began. “My wife and I have travelled over 12.000 miles, and* to-day we find ourselves received as citizens of the Empire. I find myself amongst old friends. I want to thank you in every way for the welcome you have extended to myself anj.aLsoYou

not know how much I value the privilege of meeting again the New Zealanders who helped in the war, and X value the services they rendered with the greatest given. “It is. probable that the New Zealanders in Palestine endured some of the most trying conditions of all who took part in the Great War. The heat and dust cannot be understood, except by those who were there. The heat was terrible. V This month the flies died; the next the, men died. I believe that the pride of race and the self-control of the New Zealanders in the Jordan Valley were almost without parallel.” (Applause.) Lord Allenby referred to the wonderful work of our troops on the three occasions that they were sent to the Jordan Valley. When the troops were withdrawn on two occasions it was by his orders, hut he felt confident that the men would have held the ground had such been desired; He had the greatest faith in the men. and they in him.

"A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE” On the third occasion, in the autumn of 1918, the New Zealanders went over the top of the mountains onoe more. It was a brilliant performance, and he did not think the men ever received full recognition by the public at large. No better aotion was recorded during the war than that of the New Zealanders on the mountains of Gilead. Since that war had ended there there had been many smaller wars in Evukkux, hut he believed the action of

our troops in Palestine and Syria had done much to make war on a’ large scale in the East impossible. WORTH THE SACRIFICE “I did not come out here, to preach militarism,” continued the speaker, “and none of those who had any experience of the last war will want to have it repeated. We enme out of the fight in the only way we could have come out of it as victors. When the Empire takes up a job she goes through with it. We plough a straight furrow, and go straight on. Though we paid great sacrifices the result was worth it, not only for our own future, but for that of the whole world. If we had lost the future would have been too dreadful to contemplate. I hope we never have another war, but, should we be unable to avoid it, I never want a better army under me than the New Zealanders I had in Palestine and Syria. It was a great triumph for us. Nothing has so consolidated our Empire. Though the sacrifice was dear, justice, liberty, truth, and honour make the Empire, and we are hound together by mutual sympathies of Dominion to Dominion, and all the Dominions to the Mother Country. (Applause.) BONDS OF EMPIRE “When you get your huge countries occupied you will he a greater power and more wealthy than England is now, but you will stand hound together by the bonds of Empire, that feeling tlipt we are of one family. (Applause.) Msught can touch us* or as the sayigg

is, ‘nought can make us rue if England to herself doth prove true.’ “I am not going to say I am an optimist, but I am convinced of the an solute validity of the Empire to which we belong,” proceeded Lord Allenby. “When the Napoleonic war ended a hundred years ago we had bread, agrarian, and other riots; all aftermaths of great wars. If we had them then we can expect to have them now. We cannot look for deliverance from all our troubles in a few minutes or a few years, but the spirit of Empire must go far to attain that end. (Applause.) We must hitch our wagon to a star and go forward. NEW ZEALAND’S PROGRESS “Marvellous strides have been made in New Zealand. You are opening up a wilderness, and I cannot conceive any check you can make to this beautiful land. “I am very certain that with the present understanding between England and her Dominions we shall be bound together by a bond of common sympathy,” concluded Lord Allenby. “It gives me great pleasure to be here, thousands of miles fiom Home, standing among friendG, and —shall I say—relations.” Lord Allenby resumed his seat amidst thunderous applause. When it had subsided three rousing cheers were given for Lord and Lady Allenby, ana the gathering concluded with the singing of “£V>r They Are Jolly Good Fellows” and the National Anthem. Lord end Lady Allenby left for Wellington by ilia train to-night.