WELL DONE "ACHILLES''

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 128, 26 February 1940, Page 4

WELL DONE "ACHILLES''

THE traditional reserve associated with New Zealand crowds was flung to the winds last Friday, when 80,000 Aucklanders gave vent to full-throa,ted enthusiasm in their greeting to ithe men of the cruiser H.M.S. Achilles. But the amazing scenes in Queen Street were merely an echo of the feelings of the whole of the people of the Dominion, who have a personal link with the wonderful little ship which so distinguished herself in the action against the Geiman raider, Graf Spee. For the first time in the Dominion's history, a ship in His Majesty's navy manned almost entirely by New Zealand ratings has taken part in a major sea engagement. The splendid result has sent a thrill of pride through every colonial breast, and a resounding cheer throughout the Eng-lish-speaking world. The sons of the Antipodes are proving that they too have the true essence of the bull-dog breed. New Zealand has added a fresh laurel to her honours and shown the world that her sons are not only excellent fighting men in the army and air force of Empire, but are also seamen of the first order. Auckland's spontaneous and warm-hearted welcome was New Zealand s first ringing cheer to her sons of the sea, and the recognition of the great part $iey have played in the first epic of naval warfare in the present struggle. The name 'Achilles' will for New Zealanders, have a new and precious meaning. It will rank with Anzac, and other glorious memories of the titanic strug gle of two decades ago. Though not perhaps on the same scale as those other engagements of the Great War, it holds a significance., nevertheless which is symbolic of the unity and greatness of the Empire in which we are the free and democratic citizens.