KING’S MESSAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21037, 13 February 1940, Page 5

KING’S MESSAGE

WISHES FOR WELFARE BRUTALITY OF NAZIS DENIAL OF CIVILISATION (United Tress Assn.—Eict. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 13, 11.30 a.m.) SUEZ, Feb. 12 Mr Anthony Eden, who flew Iron England at the week-end with the King’s message, awaited the arrival cf the troops. With him were Sir Miles Lampson, the British Ambassador at Cairo, Major-General Freyberg, and Sir J. Bromley, the Governor of the Suez Canal and Military Governor of Suez. They boarded the first transport to arrive, which was a New Zealander. Sir Miles Lampson read the King's message. Mr Eden, in welcoming the troops, said: “Before leaving London His Majesty charged me to repeat his congratulations on the safe journey and his wishes for your welfare. New Zealand and Australia took their place the moment ■war was declared by the side of the United Kingdom, their sister Dominions and the Allies in the vital struggle in which we are engaged. It is the simple and clear truth that the Nazi system is based on brute force. It is a denial of civilisation. There will be no free life for the peoples of the world until that system is destroyed.” Major-General Freyberg’s Reply Major-General Freyberg, in reply, gave Maori greetings and haeremai. He asked Mr Eden to take to His Majesty the keenest appreciation of his message and confirm their great loyalty and devotion. Major-General Freyberg expressed the New Zealand Government’s thanks to the Royal Navy for its care of the troops. He asked Mr Eden to give a message to their gallant comrades of the Australian Imperial Force, conveying good wishes, “and say how happy and secure we feel in having them on our flanks.”

ANZACS ARRIVE

IMPOSING ARMADA SCENES ON EGYPTIAN SHORES (Somewhere in the Middle East) One of the biggest armies which has ever crossed the seas in a single unit arrived here to-day. It consisted of the Second Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The port was crowded with the grey hulls of liners converted into transports and the escorting British warships. When they dropped anchor after their 10,000-miles voyage the masts of the great armada could be seen swaying as far as the eye could see. The message of greeting from the King was taken aboard the first New Zealand transport to arrive. The arrival of the fleet galvanised the port into intense activity. The troops were massed on the decks, singing and waving to those on shore. Diggers famed for their toughness had been sleeping for weeks in the downy bunks of the first-class cabins of luxury transport liners, but nevertheless there was a general feeling of relief among the men that the long period of inaction was coming to an end. A hefty New Zealander who was wounded in the Gallipoli campaign remarked: “ It beats me that we are being paid for this cruise! Now wo shall be ready for anything—and plenty dirt for the eye of Adolf ” The first ships to enter the port brought the New Zealanders. MajorGeneral Freyberg was the first to go aboard the leading New Zealand transport. He gave a friendly warning to the troops that the camp to which they were going was only partly finished, but he knew that they would realise they were now on active service.

General Freyberg paid a warm * tribute to the British troops through whose efforts the conditions in the camp had been greatly improved, and who were preparing hot meals for the arrival of their brother-in-arms from the Dominion.