MR. MASSEY’S RUSH HOME.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16507, 7 August 1919, Page 4

MR. MASSEY’S RUSH HOME.

CATCHING THE MAURETANIA. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 5. Me. R- Riley, official journalist, supplies the following report; Mr. Massey aueuoorl the historical ceremony at Versailles on June 2G, and in exercise of his full powers a-* New Zcalands plenipotentiary, signed the Treaty of Peace witli Germany anti the supplementary documents. 'J’ho ceremony was loss dramatic than, tho presentation of the Allies terms to the truculent Prussian delegates at tho 'J nation Hotel, but it was infinitely more satisfactory. H ended a period of tense anxiety and scaled the Allied victory over Germany. There had been so much doubt as to the Treaty being signed at all that the prevailing sentiment cf the great assembly in the famous Hall of Mirrors, as also that of tho great concourse in tho palace ground, and among the. woods hard by, was more, in the nature of relief than of sat sfaction.

Alter (he French delegalra had signed, Mr. Massey proceeded to leave the. hall in order to make a great race by specie 1 mot,.;'car from \ ersaillcs and thence hr Die destroyer Oriana from Havre to' off Spit-head, where the Mauretania was held up by Ihe Admiralty to enable the New Zealand Prime Minister to get a passage acro-s the Atlantic and connect with tho. Niagara at \ nneouvor. It was rather a difficult Ijusines,; to get out of the crowded assembly room. The guns were booming Die tidings of Bence. and the famous fountains were playing magnificently heiore Air. Massey was able to leave Die grounds of the chateau. The ample heavens over Versailles seemed crowded with aeroplanes as 1.1 in Ministers raring car sped through the woods about St. Germain and took the highway to Rouen. ll war. a pleasant journey through charming countryside to Havre, a distance of over 2f)A kilomoires. It was made in less than five hours, in spite of two minor breakdown/-.. .All the way along the routes innumerable towns and villages of _ the. free citizens of France were rejoicing with prudence and common sense. AVithin a few minutes after the Prime Minister's arrival at Havre, which was stirred with gaiety, the destroyer was under way and was prercntlv making 27 knots an hour. Tlic Mauretania wap reached at 1.45 a.m., and the homeward journey was immediately begun. All arrangements for a fast trip were made by the Pence Conference officials and the Admiralty, A NARROW ESCAPE. .

It was a miraculous escape which Mr. Massey and parly experienced in, the train smash on the Canadian National railway between Halifax and Montreal. Tho party consisted of tho Prime Minister, Mrs. and Miss .Massey. Mr. F. 1). Thomson (private secretary), ami Mr. R. Riley. The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning, when tho heavy train was making about .30 miles an hour on a level stretch. Tho party, who occupied a special ear attached to tho rear of the train, worn rudely awakened about 1.50 a.m. “y a terriffic jolting and swaying, which continued for what seemed a rather long limo before the train finally was brought up by tho violent application of (ho brakes. !!y this time the Minister's car was partially wrecked, though tho occupants had not realised the extent of the smash. As they grouped about in tho darkness amidst tlio broken glass and piles of luggage an attendant called out excitedly tffiT? tho uuderpart of the carriage was on firo. it wins discovered that tho door wan jnmbod, and as it was being wrenched open another attendant crawled under the wrecked car and extinguished tho firo by smashing tho electric gear. Tho party then proceeded leisurely to dress m the capricious light from cheap matches. Tho ladies displayed an admirable courage throughout, although subjected to much danger and having an exceptionally rough oxpcrionco, their compartments being littered with shattered glass. Fortunately, none of the party was injured, and soon all were out before dawn investigating tho nature of tho accident, A rail had snapped, leaving a gap of about 3ft., derailing four cars. The, last car fared tho worst. It had swung arrows the track from tho outset of tho derailment and bad careered along a low embankment, sledging into the, ballasting deeply for over a quarter of a mile. Then tho underpr.rt of the ear fouled a loose rail by the wayside, with tho result that tho rear bogie on six wheels had boon wrenched off like the wheels of tho train, and left overhanging a marshy plaeo at tho foot of the embankment. Tho car had boon dragged over 600 yards at 60 miles an hour, part of tho perilous ride having boon ns on a. toboggan. Tho track was wrecked for the full distance. Only one member of tho party was- thrown out of his bed, his fret smashing tho leadlight window before ho could scramble hack to his bunk. After about ton hours’ delay the party safely reached Alontrcal, where they spent the week-end.