WITH THE TROOPS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 195, 5 August 1940, Page 3

WITH THE TROOPS

(From the New Zealand Official War Correspondent) Somewhere in Britain, June 16. In still, hot sunshine, on a perfect afternoon of early summer, the trans ports of the Second Echelon dropped anchor to-day in a Homeland harbour after the longest voyage ever made by troops going to Avar. The dramatic turn in the fortunes of war during the weeks we have been at sea, the sudden change in our destination (which practically doubled the distance sailed) and the know ledge that we,have been brought through dangerous waters to where the need is greatest have combined to make this an unforgettable occasion for seven thousand men. When they were bidden welcome tliis afternoon in the name of His Majesty the King, of the British Government, of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, of General Freyberg, and of their unseen kinsfolk on shore, they were moved to repeated applause and rousing cheers. But they chccr loudest and longest of all for the ships and men of the Royal Navy to whom they owe their safe arrival. Throughout the last week our escort increased almost daily, both on sea and in the air, while the troops themselves mounted and manned machine guns as a precaution against possible air attacks. There were none Yesterday, however, we encountered for the first time the direct effects of the hidden sea war against Britain, and saw the Navy, if not in action. at least in the last stages of its preparedness for action. Toward noon we steamed through a litter of deck cargo drifting aimlessly before the tide, and almost immediately aft erwards sighted a ship on fire —billowing columns of black smoke with flames leaping from their base, and what appeared to be the hull right on end. Another merchant ship was standing and our convoy kept steadily to its changing course. Presently a scouting aircraft dropped a smoke flare. Instantaneously a pair of destroyers swung out of line, to investigate, and we bent away. Nothing came of that investigation; ( but later in the afternoon one of. our escorts dropped a depth charge, and in the early evening a further j alarm brought a pack of destroyers racing for prey, the while larger warships shepherded us cloSer. In our journey round the world, we have been under the care, at different times, of the Royal Navy itself, the New Zealand Division of the Iloyal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy, It is no reflection on the courage of our men to say that all of them who are not already members Avoufd gladly join the Navy League to-night. Their admiration does not spring from thoughts of their own safety, although all resented the possibility of being put out of the war without "having a smack at Fritz," No; they have seen what the Navy does and come to realise what it means to the life and freedom of the British Commonwealth. Was he not a famous sailor of the last war, later our Gov-ernor-rGeneral, who told us once in New Zealand, "The sea is the life"? The Royal Navy keeps the sea. We have seen it at work, and know. It had been intended that Lord Caldccote, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, and Mr W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand, should be present to greet the troops; but a last-minute development in public affairs kept both in London. The Secretary of State was represented by his Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr Gcoffrcy Shakespeare; and Brigadier N. S. Falla, Commandant of the New Zealand Base, read a message from the High Commissioner. The first speaker in the official party which made a round of the transports as they lay at anchor was General Carrington, who brought messages of welcome from the King and from the Secretary of State for War, Mr Anthony Eden. Brigadier Miles represented General Freyberg, who would have been there but for Italy's entry into the war; and civic leaders expressed the v; el come of adjacent local authorities. Mr Shakespeare said he was proud to be the first member of the Government to welcome us "Home'"'—-he emphasised the word—because "when the news leaks out that the second , contingent of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force has arrived here, there will be a thrill of joy in every home and every heart in this country." It was a timely arrival, he said, for the war had reached a very critical stage and every fresh help was most valuable. 25 years earlier lie had shared a hill with New Zea* landers —with the fathers of some o"

the men present, perhaps—just below the Apex on Gallipoli;, and he had never forgotten how gamely they fought. It Avas a pleasure to be able to express a comrade's gratitude to their sons, who would fight equally gamely and with an equal assurance of victory. Among the district civic leaders who spoke was the Lord Provost of GlasgOAA', Mr Pat Dollan, a personal friend of the Ncav Zealand Prime Minister, from, whom-he conveyed a message of greeting; and another gentleman, the Lord Lieutenant of RenfreAvsliire, who recalled having spent three months in Ncav Zealand and having seen the Pink and White Terraces the year before they were destroyed. Mr Jordan's welcome, read by Brigadier Falla, had special appeal for the troops by virtue of his being o returned soldier of the Great War. IHe congratulated them upon their safe arrival (thanking the Royal Navy for it), bade them welcome to the. Old Country, and told how very sorry he was not to be there to meet the convoy. Only urgent national business had prevented him. The war situation Avas grave, but that Avojjld not_ daunt New Zealanders, who ha'l a reputation for playing best after tAA r o tries had been scored against them. Brigadier Miles came to grips at once with realities. Noav that we were here, lie said, our task was to get right down to training, with » vieAv to meeting the neAv methods of warfare that the enemy had sprung upon us. Those Avere not so much neAV weapons as new Avays of using old AA'eapons. What Avas most needed to combat them Avas "guts," a quality in which Ncaa' Zealanders had never been lacMng; next, initiative and resource, again characteristics in which NeAV Zealanders had not been found Avanting in the past. Every man Avonld have to stick "t out; lie himself would have to find and then use methods of meeting the attack. The situation Avas grave indeed, but it Avould not .defeat us. Meaivwhile the NeAV Zealand Forces must work to be ready as soon, as they were called upon, and that might be quite soon. General Freyberg hoped to b2 in E gland shortly, but even if he could not come, because of his duties in the Near East, he Avas taking a deep personal interest in our welfare and training. "You have come to this green and pleasant land, England," concluded the Brigadier, speaking Avith the quiet determination of one avlio has lately felt the tragedy of Avar in his OAvn home. "You are going to love it, and to be ready to give your all for it." On the flagship Brigadier Hargest. and on other ships the senior officer abcarJ, returned thanks for the several speeches and messages of AA relcomc, expressed the men's eagerness to be in the firing line as soon as they could possibly prepare themselves,'and conveyed their thanks to the officers and men of the naval convoy. , Disembarkation is to begin to-imor-roAV morning, when the Maoris Avill be the first to set foot on the soil of the pakeha Homeland. Fourteen trains, their . departures spaced over three days and a half, Avill be needed to carry the Echelon, and the rail journey Avill occupy Avell OA r er tAvelve holies. All details have been worked out in advance by the shore disembarkation staff. Troops will be issued Avilh journey rations before leaving the ships, and in addition there are to be two stops.en route at re j freshmcnt stations, where meals wilJ be provided by the War Office organisation. In less than a week we shall b*> firmly established at our Base Camp, and training hard.