NEW ZEALAND CAMPS

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 323, 18 October 1940, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND CAMPS

VISIT BY MR. CHURCHILL GENERAL EREYBERG PRAISED (From the Official War Correspondent with the New Zealanu Forces in Great Britain.) SOMEWHERE IN BRITAIN, September 4. —Mr. Winston Churchill’s visit to the New Zealand camps., of which Daventry will have told you something, took place under ; cloudless sky on the hottest alter noon of an unusually good suinine The Pr me Minister was late in arriving, but he stayed his full time, moved freely, among the training and paraded troops, and, at tlu larger of the two concentration: which had been arranged for lrm, gave us a taste of the rich Church illian phrase that so aptly express es the. spirit of the British people in this time of trial and test. “ooldiers of Now Zealand,” lu said —“Jll the name of the British uovernment J. wish to tell you iiu. very glad wo arc to have iiad you with us during tnqse last four months: so critical for our Islam, home and so fateful in the li.slo.i-. of the British Empire. When you came, our forces in this island were Dy no 'means as strong as they are to-day—not to go into detail. When you first came, a comparatively small army of tho enemy might liavi wrought) much havoc here before they had been finished off. But no\. we have very powerful armies here; and if, as some think, that bad man is inclined to try his venture, w> feci sure we shall g'Vc a good m count of ourselves. And again I say we arc very glad that troops from New Zealand would bear then part in the defence of this ancioi State and island—the heart of th Empire: the cradle and the citade of free institutions throughout tn world.

“This is not the first time I ha\ seen a New Zealand brigade or cl vision on the eve of battle. I saw your division in 1!)!7 when Sir Douglas Haig reviewed them. I sat by ins side. In those days I made the munitions for tlic Army. Nor is it the first time 1 have seen your general, my honoured friend Bernaru Ercybcrg, in the m.dst of war a Janus. It is a long time ago since, as First Lord/of Llio Admiralty, 1 signed the necessary papers, to pro cure him a. commission as sub-lieut-enant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, from which he rose Lc high command —by uiiexainplec. valour in attack, by train-ng in knowledge of the military art, aim by being a veritable salamander 1. tne fire of the enemy. You are n good luinils. I trust you in utmost confidence to him. He has neve, led finer men in all-his experience of war. And there is one thing .. will tell you-about hm : He may se you some hard tasks; lie will neve be able to tell you-to do anything that he has not done himself. “We in this island are now bearing the accumulated we.gilt of the malice and tyranny of the enemy We do not feel unequal to it. We arc sure we shall prove ourselves not unequal to the task of once again being the champion and tin l.berntor of Europe. Wo do 1101 feel lonely when the sons, of our great Dominions overseas —lands where they breed the finest lighting races —come back here, or come to other parts of the British Empire, there to bear their part in this great contention. “I wish you well. i wish yov great good luck. May God protect you. .1 am sure you will crown the name of New Zealand with new honours, with a lustre which w.i not fade as the years pass by. “Of all tho wars we have evei fought, none has been more honourable, more righteous, than this. None lias been more unsought by us In none were we taken at grcatei disadvantage in our preparations. In 110110 has greater weight bee thrown upon us. From none slm! we emerge with a greater sense ol duty done. “May fortune rest upon your arms. May you return home with victory to your credit, having writ ten pages into tho annals -of tin imperial Army which will be turnci over by future generations whcncvc’ they wish to find a model for fine military conduct.”