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MESSAGE FROM GENERAL BIRDWOOD

CONVEYING'GREETINGS OF TROOPS. •His Excellency the Governor-General has received cho yellowing cablegram lroin General Sir William Binnvood:—"On this the third anniversary of, Anzac Day, I desiro to convey the greetings of the members of tho Australian Imperial Forco to tho people i\f New and to assure them that the. New Zealand and Australian troops are continuing to uphold tho great traditions established ou April 2a, 1915. The many months during which New Zealand and Australian troops fought literally shoulder to shoulder in tho common cause can never be forgotten by either. All who are fighting to-day realise that the safety and honour of their homes and people areas much in their safe custody. as thc-y were three years ago, and in this trust they will not fail.—(Sgd.) Birdwood." ■ ANZAG IN SONG (To the Editor.) Sir,—A good deal of the poetry evoked by the war is little better than proseit is sadly destitute of vision and passion. A very welcome exception to that literary condition, is found in the poetry of a Victorian Presbyterian Doctor of Divinity. A good Many years ago Professor Eontoul, of Melbourne, wrote a short exposition and interpretation of Tennyson's "In Memoriam," which won from the poet very high praise. For a third of a century Victoria has known Dr. Eentoul as a genius in preaching, in literature, in controversy, but she has

not known him as a r/oet.- He hid for years hie poetic >ight under a bushel by publishing over !he o<ld pen name of "Gervais Gage/' but in recent times he has dropped his pen name and has published over his own name, and his poetic genius is now recognised by tho literary critics of Britain and America. The rotnrn of Anzac Day furnishes an occasion for calling attention to Dr. Rentout's songs, "At tho Sign of the Sword," in which he does justice to the heroism of our Australasian soldiers at Gallipoli. Here, for example, is his story in song of the landing at Galm Tepe on April 25, 1915: — In the deep of the dnrkling night, By tho storied Trojan soas, The boats stole out to the' fight On the crag-crowned Cherouese. 'Twas their first grim grapple with death, With rillo and cold Bt»v steel, And holding hard at their breath And the "nerves" they must uot feel. Bound them the shelterless shore, And In front the trenoh-rimmed height, Sniper and field guns roar, As the day broke clear from the night! So tho beach and the clill were won In their flvat great costly fight, In the blaze of the full-day snn And the deep of the darkling night. And the bayonets were unfixt And they felt what the victors feel, Though the dripping tears were mixt With tho red on tho reokinc steel. Till time shall be no more, They shall sing, by the peaceful seas, How the fight was fought by the shore Of the shot-torn Ohcroneso! Sound the Last Post for the dead, Drop a tear 'mid the falling tears; The bays on each hero'B head Shall bo gruen for a thousand years! Dr. Rentoul does not belong to the' baud of waiters that see only failure in the Gallipoli campaign. In his poem "Anzac—Not in Vain '." he eets forth the equation of this alleged failure. Here I is what he sings:— Men of Auzao! Not in vain All the battle sweat aud pain Of the brave young lives that fell Gashed and torn by shot and shell; Now the riddle's written plaiu, Foes confess 'twas uot in vain. Spoiled his planned-out carnival By old Nile and wrecked Canal, And tho dream the 'lentous had Of dear, dirty, old Bagdad, . I'ersi&n Gulf and Tigris stream, ho, bohold, it was a dream! Dullard, learn it! Hold, it true!— 'Tia tho thine tho heroes doIlow the ruuturc of the Gross That transfigures pain and loss. Proves—and proves it once again— Love's great cost is not in vaiul Theso quotations speak for themselves of tho poetic merit of the volunio, "At Vancouver's Well," published by Macmillan, from which I take them. Now Zealand has a place in this voland one or two New &alanders who have passed away l-«d a place in Dr. Rentoiu's heart. In a letter the writer received from Dr. Rentoul some time ago ho referred to his friendship with tho iate Dr. James MacGregor, of Oainaru, whom ho described ns a "splendid genius and noble soul."' , —I am, etc., ROBERT WOOD. Island Bay, April 24. IN THE CHURCHES Special services were hold in the various churches yesterday, when hymns appropriate to the occasion were sung and special prayers wero offered. Dr. Gii.Vb, in an address at St. John's Church, after describing the deed of derring-do of the landing at Anzae, and tho subsequent valour of the trenches, said that tho chief wonder was the fact that theso men a few months before did not dream thut they would ever be called to face the dreadful ordeal of battle. He asked what was the secret that transformed these peaceful men into the equals of Britain's best. Tn part it wns the peril of their own land. It might bo that New Sfrnlnnd would suffer as IMfjium bad suffered, if they did not rally to the fray, and v;ith their kindred across tho sea strike ngninst the common foe. "For New Zenl.md" thrilled in tho cry that awnke tho manhood of the nation, jiut more than this: the call of the Empire, (hat ureat confederacy wmenteil with mun> honest l>l«i:d mi'l with r>. world nf tear-;, welded by the liwt brains of past centuries, sounded in their ears. And ilwpor even than that ii-...: (',.(. .-nil of jHin:" 1 frpi'tlom and the : !'H>H of iv.ii-i. A* thiiv.!s were, who I nnn't! ,inn'it (V 'Mn interests of ramikind demanded thut Britain should tab- I he , pnrt in ':he struMe In the denth 'v'f'i (lie pi-'i-l, nvVif- of Gorman militnr : ..<iii. The-" ■ —■ , nf \'n\\- 7<">in. id iienrd mid re=tio"-' .' In Ibe rail. TWsnkine wife anrl oV-\ mrnnts and friends, turnin? thfiv biyk nnnn ease and comfort, they embraced the sol-

dier.s' calling with all its hardships and perils, And they chose the. better part. To the people of New Zealand the yiiestion now came: What was required from each one of them for whom these men suffered and died? Surely for one thing it demanded that they should individually and unitedly and to the utmost of their power determine- to see this thing through. German militarism must bo brought to the dust. Ho was no friend to hi 3 country or to the best interests of mankind who desired an inconclusive' peace. The speaker had indeed no sympathy with the spirit ot vindictive"revenge. If instead of dealing with .thoso Germans who wero responsible for rhe war they were minded to punish the whole {ienuan people, ami to attempt the fool's task of casting 60 or 7(1 millions outside the comity of tho nations as pariahs and lepers; then they wure going to lay v.p for themselves a heritage of woo and the Armageddon >>[ to-day would be followed by ollvE-r a.nd worse Armageddons (if worse could be) before many years were past. But the Germany which is black of soul, which cares neither for God nor man, which loves war like a mistress, arid believes itself to be the elect of the nations, that Germany must be brought to the dust. If ':hey doubted this, let them reed a- 1»ok recently published calkd "Deductions I'-om The World War," by a high German military authority, and their eyes would open. This man actually wrote to prepare his country for a future war. So for wero tho militarists of Germany from realising the spirit which they were of Finally, Britain, and the men of New Zealand, wero fightin? to put an end to war forever; for the destruction not only of Gorman militarism, but of militarism everywhere. It was for this that those hundreds of thousands of British men had suffered cr-d died-for thiß that these nameless mounds have prisen in Gallipoli, ueath which so many brave, young New >alamlers he sleeping. Hp knew, indeed, that no pious resolutions of themselves would suffice to realise their hope nf n warless world, and to bring in a mil 1 inium of peace and joy. Reforms sweemng and drastic in international and diplomatic rrlotions; reforms within each commonwealth commensurate with the just desires of an enlisjilmied democracy, and with the responsibility each man owes to all. were imperative if they would sfe a better day. And all this -would be accomnlMtod only, if with their whole hearts, they turned to God. And that, could the-''but. interpret it arieht, wns tho call that came to them from the men who died at A'toic. from tho vast multitude of the denoted in .all the world-wide fields of strife. Let them return to God, that -pardoned, cleansed, with His rifhtemisness, as their shining ideal, and His lore as their abiding inspiration, they micht lnbour for a new, a better,' a happi'T world. Let that bo !!,„:.. nr'l. uncoil l ". niilenvour fnr New Zealand, for t>r« Rmiire, fir the whole world of mankind, fio would Hip dream of °"> : nts and fages and reformers be fulfilled and the pry at last rise, from nil nut-inns: The kingdoms of this world am lvewio t'ie kingdom «f our Lord and of Fi« niiWst, and He s i,-n r fowver a nd ever.

The "Brad ■March" in Saul was played by the organist.

CELEBRATIONS ELSEWHERE

By Telegrauh—Prenn Association. Auckland, April 2. r i. Anzac Day was commemorated to-dny by a citizens' service in the Town Hnll. Addresses were delivered by BishoD Averill, the fiev. H. Steel Craito. Chanlain to the Forces, and Commissioner Hodder, of the Salvation Army. Services were also held in the various churches. In the evening returned soldiers were entertained by the Mayor and City Councillors at a smoke concert. Napier, April 25. Anzne Day was celebrated by a_ united non-erciscopal service in the morninp; and a gatherinj in the Municipal Theatre in flip afternoon. A procession of returned soldiers and local military forces marched through the streets, and patriotic and in memorinm SDeech°s wore delivered in the thentro by the M-iyor. the member for the district, and Dr. Boxer, president of the R.S.A. Fe.ilHinq, April 25. Anzac Day was celebrated by a church parade at the Anglican Church tin's mnrnin". p* which a large number of returned officers and men wpv nrnsenf;. and n united service in Ihe hall this afternoon. All Protestant ministers 'nok nnrt, and there was a very large gathering. Wanganiii, April 25. A Tissue Dav was celebrated by religious services and military demonstrations. April ?5. Anznc Dcv was celebrated by religious services and a military pnrade. The latter was nrobnbly Hie largest , ever seen in ChrisMmrcH. T '' ii!P.lii''"'M"o returned soldiers in uniform. The. mu=ter oP Cadets was particularly striking. One short but very impress!™ service took place at the 'Anglican Cnthedrn], when a wreath from (V T?pfiivnpd Soldiers' Association was dedicated in memory of (heir comrades. The wreath, which was received at the altar steps by Denn Cnr■.;..nfnn. ."if bn-tir. 'VT) p. Jnck b>' five members of the association, who marched from the western door down the centre aisle. Timaru, April 23. The Anzac Day service was favoured with sunshine. There was one of the. largest musters of uniforms ever see* her". It included Anzaes. Territorials, Cadet', aiul binds—over *"H) in all—' including fifl returned soldiers and ' :i Crimean-veteran. Revn ministers took Tiart. nit'l (he Mrvor, Jfr. Mnling. Jtr. Craigic, M.P., and the l?»v. Itosers wem among tlip speakers. . • The crowd was estimated to number 40M. Duriedin, April %. .\i\7.tic Day was observed by a hnifholidny. A parade of returned was bold in the .aftornncA followed bv a public service ond pi'Mic meeting held at night. Apnronriafe. services wore held in nearly, all the churuhes. Invercarglli, April 25. Anzao Day was vnlebrated in fine ■weather, and a close holiday was observ-t-d. Services were held In ell the churches in the morning, and were well nttemled. There was a military parade, and speeches in the open in the afternoon, and n larrro patriotic meeting in the theatre at ni<rht. TTio public entered sympathetically into the purpose of tlio day, the observance of which was in every way satisfactory. AWAC DAT IN SYDNEY. (Bee.. April 25, 10.40 p.m.) , Sydney, April 25. Anznc Day was celebrated by a parade of returned soldiers. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed, ami recruiting rallies nn J i intercession f-erviees were held.— Press Assn.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19180426.2.47

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,100

MESSAGE FROM GENERAL BIRDWOOD Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 6

MESSAGE FROM GENERAL BIRDWOOD Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 6

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