HERO OF ANZAC.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16852, 4 June 1920, Page 7

HERO OF ANZAC.

WARM RECEPTION IN WELLINGTON. (special to ''the press. ) WELLINGTON, June 3. U 7 o'clock this evening, people were streaming into the Town Hall to welcome General Sir W. 11. Birdwood at tie civic reception arranged in his honour. By 8 o'clock a very largo audience had assembled, and a tew minutes later the little General's nppeaiance was the signal for an outburst of cheering, which was renewed as he stepped on to the platform, the whole audience rising and attcrwards singing "For He's a Jolly Good i-eliow. ' The first speaker was the Mayor, who, in welcoming the General, tolcl him that there wore hundreds of returned soldiers in trout of him that evening, and there was not one of them who would not again place his life at his disposal if the need arose. (Cheers). The .Mayor: "Wouldn't you? The Dingers (in chorus): es. Tho Prime Minister, who welcomed General Birdwood on behalf of the whole Dominion, was himself most enthusiastically cheered, and made a stirring spcech. A reference by h'.m in praise of the famous old 29th Division drew forth generous and continued cheering, mostly from the returned soldiers present. The General warmly shook Mr Massev by the hand as he resumed his scat. Mr Jerry, a returned soldier, who lost his arm in France, welcomed the General on behalf of tho soldiers who had returned. He drew rn interesting picture of General Birdwood walking Through the front line trenches in his shirtsleeves with a "pull through'' for ; a belt, and a glittering staff, consisting of one solitary "Diprgor" with a rifle, while tho "Diggers" in tho lire gave him candid advice to keen his blinkin' head down. This description of tho General, which was not altogether apochryphal, drew forth a general burst of laughter, in which both the General and Lady Birdwood joined. Dt. president of tho Returned

Soldiers' Association, referring to Donald Hankey's "Beloved Captain," said that he would call General Birdwood "The Beloved General." At the conclusion of his brief speech he gave the General, amidst cheering, a hearty handshake from a hundred thousand "Diggers." Tho General, on rising to reply, was again loudly cheered. Ho was really quite moved by the reception accorded him, and lie said so. He made one of his humorous speeches, and soon, had

the "Diggers.'> and, indeed, the whole audience in fits of laughter. He said he had read pages 6f stories about himself recently in a Sydney oaper, but ho recognised onlv one of tliem as true". (Laughter.) lie then proceeded to tell some of his experiences that were true. One was tho story of the runner. Tho General on cold mornings sometimes used to run from post to post for exercise; and warmth. On one. such morning lie came across a man who was shivering with cold, and he told him that the onlv_ thing for it was a run. The soldier said "Yes. sir,'' and started off with tho General, but after they had gone a quarter of a mile the man stopped and said, "When are we going to come .to that rum?" Then tho General had to oxplain that the man had misunderstood the word he had used. Another story was about the old jam-tin bombs made at Anzac. A man at Qufnn's Post one day was explaining to him "that those bombs were no d good." "What's tho matter with them?" asked the General. "Well, just look here," said the digger, as he struck a match and lit the fuse. As the thing began to fizz the General, somewhat alarmed, turned his face awav. The thinrr continued to fizz and tlrn went off with a Dang, one bit cutting through the General s gaiter," and another striking the man o» tho cheek. The soldier, astonished. but not altogether nonplussed, exDressed his surprise bv remarking' "That's tho first of 'those d— thines that has gone off this morninc*." Speaking later in serious vein. General Birdwood gave the returned solders some good advice. He shid ho was glad to eg? them again as comrades and friends, and he pictured the brave diyger of Anzac— and brave and big-h-arted, fichting against great odds. At'Anzac New Zonland had gained her nationhood, and he felt sure.that the men who had been good soldiers in war would bo pood citizens jn peace. He urged them to "Hiild law and order, and to stand ly the Government, elected by a free people. (Cheers.) They should rpake tlvir Associations non-political —(Cheers) —and non-sectarian—(Cheers)—and finally he presented to them the gospel of work. Before concluding, he mentioned that th 6 warship Chatham, which is coming to the New Zealand Government, was the ship in which he carried out the evacuation from Gallipoli. On resuming his seat the General was again loudly cheered. He then inti- j mated his desire to shake hands with ' the returned soldiers, and several hun- { • drtos of those present availed themselves of the opportunity. HIS NEW ZEALAND TOUR. \ (PRESS 'ASSOCIATION TEZ/EGRAM.) 1 WELLINGTON, June 3. „ General Birdwood leaves for Christ- I church on Monday night. He will spend a fortnight in Canterburv and t Otago, and will visit Dunedin, " Inver- * carpill, and Queenstoirn. Returning &P+ w , h e proceed overland to the West Coast; thcnceto NelwVw B, f nhci -n- 0n llis return to te 7 11 e° t0 thc Wairarapa and Napier motor to Taupo and RotoA&r J? -r CD P J° Ceed to Auckland, p After spending a few days there ho will' tl for wJir ymo - T, - tl ?' and then lea™ e: en "S n various towns w E?*?* ,? e T ID leavo Wellington U 20th Arawa about July