A SUITABLE WELCOME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2510, 10 July 1915, Page 4

A SUITABLE WELCOME

There appears to bo some doubt as. to ,the nature of the welcome home which is to bo given to our wounded soldiers who- arc returning by tho steamer' Willochra. ! Tho Minister of Defence has properly pointed out that some of the men might be prejudicially affected by a great public demonstration: but no very great difficulty should' bo experienced in so - arranging matters that, if thero aro any such cases, they could bo safeguarded against excitement or noise. The main thing to be assured is that the men who went forth to fight, our battles and acquitted themselves so gallantly shall have no room to feel on their return that their efforts have made no appeal to those of us who have stayed Dehind. Tho public are most anxious to givo tho men a fitting welcome home, and to demonstrate in tho most offcctivo manner possible their deep sense of obligation to their citizen soldiers who . havo suffered in tho war. They wish to (show their high admiration jot tfroir jgreaft ,<£?.

Dardanelles, and to find a,vent for the feelings of prido in tho honour and glory which these_ returning men have assisted to bring <to Now Zealand. Thcro.is nothing like a great and oliecring multitude , of people to stir the pulses and carry conviction to the hearts of the men who are coming back-to. us'wounded in our cause. And the cheers and the welcome'which we extend to the men on tho Willochra will go out aoross the waters to the men in tho Hospitals in Egypt and at Malta; to the'men in the trenches at the Dardanelles; and to our forces in Egypt getting ready to take their place in the firing line. They all will recognise that they als? aro included in this tribute from their people in the homeland, and their hearts will warm to us as ours are warmed to them, and they will be stimulated -and exalted for tho tasks which, lie ahead. The ■Patriotic Society, in conjunction' with tho Minister of Defence, wo have no doubt will see,that tho arrangements mado for the occasion are such as will enable the people of Wellington, on behalf of the whole Dominion, to adequately express the feelings which wo all entertain -towards. the returning men-