PRESS DELEGATES' TOUR

Otago Witness, Issue 3385, 29 January 1919, Page 37

PRESS DELEGATES' TOUR

ADDRESS BY MR G. FEN WICK. Tho address delivered by Mr George Fenwick on tile tour of tho New Zealand press delegates G n the 27th in Burns Hall proved both attractive and interesting. The attendance was a fairly, numerous one, and those present frequently expressed their appreciation of the pictures projected upon the screen and the explanations made concerning them. The slides included exceedingly good depictions of many snips of war of ail classes, munition works, New Zealand soldiers' quarters in the Homeland, and views of the towns and battlefields of France, particularly in the neighbourhood of Arras. The address was given in aid of St. John Ambulance Association. The Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) presided, and in introducing Mr Fenwick mentioned that gentleman's connection with the New Zealand press delegation, and emphasised the important part the press had played in the war.

Mr Fenwick prefaced his remarks by statingl that the tour had been the experience of his life. He was not going to deal with preliminaries as to the departure from New Zealand, the voyage to Vancouver, and the trip across Canada, because there was so muoh to aay on other matters. Still, the trip to Vancouver wasv exceedingly delightful, and at Honolulu they were the guests of the British Club, the members of which were extremely kind to them. They could not do too much for. them. They were then in American territory, and the members of the community did all they could to make the visit pleasant. Tho night before they reached Vancouver, the 3rd of July, they had a great demonstration on board the boat. The British people on board invited their American friends to an evening, and it was a glorious one on both sides. A little later they realised the tremendous effort the Americans had made in connection with their entry into the war. The next day they re ached Vancouver, and experienced a good deal of diifiesiity with their passports. They then left Vancouver, bound for Montreal, and he would iik& to describe their journey tcioss tho groat American continent, "bus citn© would JK>t permit. They,had &a ex.<**d«jgiy pleasant stay in Montreal and frosn !.'::*re the journey to New York was a •/'.. iyrt one. He found New York just as lt» had seen it nine years before—a wonderful city. There was only one New York and only one London. In New York wonderful use was made of the electric light, and the scene was one of great brilliance. The streets were crowded to an extent that could hardly be realised.

After three days' stay in New York they found themselves on one of the great steamers, No. 501. In those times of war the greatest secrecy was observed with re?;ard to the departure o." steamers. They ound the ship was the Adriatic; a very fine steamer; and on it made their way down the harbour, and as they went down it they realised that there was something unusual in this trip, for they were followed by great steamers like their own, and these were disguised beyond recognition. They reached Sandy Hook in due course and were surrounded by destroyers, which flitted about them and made them realise that they wore- under a certain measure of nrotection. There was also a great battleship, and above them were aeroplanes. Finally, thoy were left in charge of the battle cruiser. They had seen no submarines, but as they were nearing the English coast a great steamer appeared in the offing, and a communication from her caused them to completely alter their course. They were to go by way of the North of Ireland, but as a result of tho communication thev went back on their tracks for nearly 24- hours and came round' by tho South of Ireland instead of the north. When they e:ot to London they learned thai they had been within a few miles of where a large liner had been sunk.

He recollected the London of years ago. It was then a blaze of light, now it was in darkness. The streets in the daytime were changed ( , as they were paraded bv men in khaki and in blue. Their time in London was one of great activity. They found a long schedule of engagements, and they realised that they were not going to have much time to themselves. There were visits to hospitals, training camps, and other places. Mr Fenwiok hero commented on the magnificent work women had done in the Old Country, and detailed many of the occupations they were engaged in. They found.that the New Zealanders were taken exceedingly great care of. General Richardson could- not do too much for them. The speaker mentioned the instruction the men received at WRlton-on-Thamrs, and at Hornchurch. , At Slinsr Camp the training was of a severe character, but tho men turned out were in splendid trim' when they reached the fighting line. Then the party visited Rosyth, where the great navy was anchored, and they realised that the nation was at war, because, before they were allowed on the waters of the Firth of Forth they had to.give a drastic pledge that they would not divulge anything they might see. At Edinburgh they were entertained by the Lord Provost at a great dinner, at which the Lord Provost delivered a very fine speech. It was from Edinburgh that they went to the Firth of Forth, and there passed through great lines of magnificent ships of war, mile after- mile. After treading the deoks of a number of these magnificent specimens of naval architecture they were taken on board " our" pride, the New Zealand, and were shown the piece of steel that had been struck in the fight at Heligoland, and their attention directed to other points of- interest. They had lunch on board, and when they left they ff-!t that New Zealand had done the right thing in presenting the Old Country with that fine vessel. Speaking in general terms Mr Feuwick said it was a privilege to meet mniy of the great statesmen, on terms of cordial intimacy he might almost say. They liked to discuss important questions with the delegates and to tell what Great Britain was doing. They went into a great factory 12 or 14 miles down the Clyde, and there saw tremendous activity. There were thousands of men actively engaged in building all kinds of vessels. A great battleship was launched while they wero there. The hall being darkened and the pictures before referred to placed upon the screen, Mr Fenwiek proceeded to explain and comment upon them, and at the conclusion of the address had oonveyed to him by the Mayor the thanks of those present.