BOWLERS REJOICE OVER AUSTRIAN COLLAPSE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 35, 5 November 1918, Page 6

BOWLERS REJOICE OVER AUSTRIAN COLLAPSE

Tho members of the Wellington Bowling Club, at tho invitation of their president, Mr. Albert Wylie, took occasion yesterday afternoon to celebrate the surrender of Austria to the Allied arms, Mr. Wylie proposed the toast of "The Empire and the Allies," and spoke of the great achievements in arms and sacrifice that had been accomplished during tho past four years. The fall of Austria was tho third step towards the complete subjugation of the arch-enemy who had prepared for .forty years to dominate the world .by force of arms. Germany started tho war by the violation of her plighted word and her signed treaty, and had perpetrated atrocities that had outraged tho civilised world. But, thanks to the pluck and endurance of the Allied arms, the British Empire and all it stood for had triumphed, and in his opinion it was only a question of a few days when Germany would cease to bo a military force amidst a world in amis. He gave them the toast of "The British Empire and the Allies." This was responded to with enthusiasm, cheers and the singing of "God Save the King.". Mr. Thomas Bush proposed tho toast "Our Boys at the Front." He spoke of the fears and anxiety of tho mothers and fathers for their sons at the front. Seventy per'cent, of the best of New Zealand's sons had entered the lists without conscription, and save for the losses New Zealand people had suffered perhaps least of all in the war. He coupled the toast with the name of Mr.' J. D. Sievwright, who declared that that day was one of the greatest in the history of .their country and Empire. He ;sympathised with tho fathers and mothers who had lost their best in the war, but by their deaths they had helped to save this Dominion from falling under the tyrannical heel of the ntrocious, Hun. New Zealand's sons had proved the metal of their pastures; they had shown themselves gallant soldiers on many a stricken field, and their names would go down in history as the proud defenders and preservers of that civilisation and freedom the Germans had sought to destroy. Victory and honour were assured to tho Allied arms, and in the language of General Rosenthal, of Australia, there were no better fighting nmtcrial, in point of courage, chivalry, and efficiency, than the New Zealand soldiers. Mr. W. Kunmile. of Moiman Club, Sydney, proposed "The Ladies." The women of tho Empire—Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa—had covered themselves with glory. He told, how tho women of Australia were cppealed to for 100,000 pairs of socks and 200,000 pairs was the response, Their nurses were heroines every one. Private Salek, who is back on furlough from the Palestine campaign, was present, and delivered a speech in which he narrncod some stirring incidents of the Eastern campaign. He exhibited a ring which wn-s presented to him on leaving Jerusalem, which bore in Hebrew the inscription, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may I lose my right hand." His father, Mr. I. Salek, spoke of the great privileges the Jews enjoyed under the Union Jack. Mr. Richards proposed "The Maori Contingent," and the toast was honoured liko the others with musical honours, and tho singing of "Rule Britan4ia" closed a ontriotic imtherin.?. '