THE "FOUR-CHEVRON MEN"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 147, 17 March 1919, Page 6

THE "FOUR-CHEVRON MEN"

BACK FROM THE LONG CAMPAIGN

GREAT WELCOME TO THE HORARATA DRAFT

WELLINGTON EN FETE

Saturday afternoon was a revelation of what Wellington can do when it likes in the way of receptions. We are olttimes, ana perhaps not unjustly altogi'tiier, accused ot being cold, but ino really splendid manner in which Wellington threw up its hat on Saturday in honour of the liororata's draft will go a long way towards altering that impression. The. public have long been ripe .to show their admiration for the boys who had helped to pull Teutonism to Hie dust, and the news that a large proportion of the inc-n of the incoming draft were (hose of the Main Body—men of the lirst Samoa and liallipoli campaigns— iiiinriiirii vliem just the desired opportunity. They undoubtedly losoto the occasion as has never been the case before, and gave the Hororata's louO men a welcome that will long linger in their memories in connection with their first glimpse of home alter four years of the grimmest kind of war in history. The welcomers had been baulked of their celebrations the previous evening, owing to the late arrival of the steamer, and many were the eager eyee turned harbourwa'rds o.n .Saturday morning, to cateli the first glimpse of the bulky transport as s.'ie lay black and business-like in mid-stream, unci out tniMv her decb were alive with "Diggers" long before breakfast was sounded taking in once more Hie familiar shore lines of the harb'our and sniffing the faint familiar oduur of burning grass that came, over the hills in a blue haze with the first rays of light. 11 was a grey morning, with a fresh north-westerly breeze blowing, a typical Wellington day. Shoreward the general greync.ss was gradually flecked with tiny specks of colour as the bunting began to feel the. breeze over the jumble of roofs and chimney stacks. At 10 o'clock the Tutanekai, which had been requisitioned to accommodate the next-of-kin. put out from the Clyde Quay Wharf with |l«ss than two hundred passengers on board (those interested being for the most part under the impression Hint, the steamer would leave from tho Ferry Wharf). Ten minutes or so after Jeaving the wharf the steamer was breasting up to the fat transport, whose great freeboard showed .the last traces of wornout camouflage. The decks were illicitly lined with solid rows of khaki-clad figures, who waved a cheery welcome to the excited people on the Tntanekoi.

"Boy! Boy!" It was the scream of an excited feinulo keen on singling her Tela tivo out from the negative brown congregations of "Diggers along the bulwarksThen as tin; ship drew in closer there was ;i bnbcl of calls. "There's Walter! J.oolr. just by that boat!" Ts Dint jou, Jack?" A hundred Jacks milled in the affirmative. "Oh.nnm, there's Rill sitting by that deckhouse.—look, he's scratchijiir his hiad!" "No, that isn't him, dearie!" And every now and again, from the bridge deck came the scream: "Boy! Boy!" from the young Indy who was evidently fearfully keen to find her "boy" in the khaki pack. The distance between the Government steamer and the transport could nnt have been more tlmn a hundred feet, but it y-as enough to keep nearly everyone on board puzzled as to whether they were guessing which' was the right one. Oniy a few of those on. board tho Tutanekiu were positive that they had seen their next-of-kin. The steamer circled the transport t' ice. As die came up on her stern nuarter the second time Captain Smith, of tho Hororata, assisted by an out-size in megaphones, shouted: "Thanks for your signal of welcome!" Then for the'first time those on board tho Tutanekai became aware that the flags fluttering aloft were not morelv bits of colour, but spelt the word; '-'Welcome Home!"

The Children's Welcome. As the steamer left for the wharf again the little (lobar, laden with the Koseneath School children (bound for Day's Bay) went round the transport, and gave volleys of chew's to the Hororata's men as they passed. Then, as it time-tabled, the Duchess, packed with white-frccked schooigirlds, and looking like a floating bouquet, "put out from the "Ferry Wharf and made for the transport. There wero about a, thousand children with their teachers on this veritable barge of happiness, and they all carried tiny flags which they were prepared to fly till they dropped. The Duchess never looked so pretty nor so striking. Traversing the bulwark on tho one side was a streamer on which was printed the line: "Hail, Anzacs. Yoiuig New Zealand greets you!" And on the other side (in letters that could be rend across the harbour) was: "Your deeds will live in omr memories for ever!" The Duchess'is a handy craft, and though i,t was blowing a stiff northwesterly breeze she was able to get within thirty or forty feet of the transport on the windward uide, iind the patriotic choruses from the lusty tlrroats of those children was something to hear and remember. The effect was all and more than anyone expected. Each chorus seemed better than the last. There was "Bule, Britannia," "Keen the Home Fii'Ps Burning," "The Long," Long Trail," "Pack up Your Troubles in. Your Old Kit Bag," and finally, "Horn?, Sweet Home," all accompanied by the Salvation Army Band. The returned soldiers said that there was nothing quite so "decent" (by which they meant affecting) as the serenade of the children. Their voices rang true and sweet on the wind, causing many a sturdy "Digger" to wipe away n furtive tear on the sly. It was real home at last—here were, the children that make this home an,! ke.e;i it bright and cheerful through good times and bad. The men cheered the shipload of juvenile ecstasy, and the youngsters _ cheered until they ..were hoarse. If these receptions nre to be kent up there is one euro and certain thins ta be borne in mind, which is that on no consideration should the children bo unconsidered. The testimony of the Horornta's draft is solid on that point. The Duchess hung on to the troopship fjr ii lon«, happy hour, and then returned to the wharf.

A Festive Landing, There has never been such a successful wolcome accorded to returned troops as that: Riven on Saturday afternoon. Without interfering in the slightest degru with tho disembarkation arrangements, a means was devised of giving tho Main Body men a real rousing welcome home—a welcome in which the feelings of every loyal citizen were reflected. During the forenoon it was stated that it was highly improbable that the vessel would Jjcith at 2 p.m., but at noon oflicinl word was received by the newspapers that the transport would berth at i ;.i.m. promptly, and as the hour chimed the ])\x bulk of the Hororata came nosing up to the King's Wharf to tho ac eomrmniment of playing bands and the voices of n great choir. The spectacle was ono that stirred the hearts of all wiio were privileged to Witness it. As the first line thumped on to the wharf the Patriotic Band and 350 voices from the Civil Service Ladies' Choir, placed in tho balcony of the shed that traversed the berth where tho Hororata was to lie, struck- up "When Johnny Conies Marchins Home," and from that out the berth, ing of (he liner was given a musical dressing. The choir sang "Three Cheers for tlw Bod. White, and Blue," "Tho Soldiers of the King/' "The Girl I Left Behind Me." "Pack Up Your Troubles," and "I'll Be Waiting. ,1 There could be mi question that the boys on tho transport were charmed and delighted with tlu> novel reception accorded them. Thoir locks told th» story. Whilst the singing was delighting the ears of flie home-comers, eager eyes in the wharf were seeking out their loved ones among the lads in khaki, who were naeki\l in linos along the vessel's decks. Every port-hole frnmed a face, every ledge formed a seat for a soldier, and they all had eyes for someone ashore us did those on tho wharf for those afloat. The greetings wore very affecting in places. There were tears in plenty among tho waiting women, but the most touching spectacle was the eight of two littlo children welcoming their father Iα four chevron man), Such sconce aro

100 sacred to'be described, but what m argument they are against war! Tho idea originated with Miss llichardson (Lands and Survey Department) and. •Miss Stevens (Land and Deeds Department). Miss Stevens was in charge ot the iiiiislc. and Mte; Yorster was in chaw of the ciearettes. The Disembarkation. With tho girls' voices still raisins! joy aloft, the wire springs were mador secure, and the gangway was thrown across to tho elevated platform. The Acting-Prime Minister and tho Hon. G. W. liussell, and the Mayor (Mr. J. V. Luke) stepped on board, but no attempt ivas made to speak to the men. The military had ruled against any interference whatsoever with their plans, and there was none, not a solitary speech, for which the men afterwards, in private, expressed their thanks. Aβ eoon ' a.s the gangway was made fast,, the men carrying their kit bags, began' to leava the ship, and the line was kept moving until every man for Wellington was oft' the ship. It was the best disembarkation yet, and Colonel M'Donald and his staff, and Captain Priolor, aud his staff, deserve the thanks of everyone. The arrangements were adhered to with clocklike precision, and yet, as in the casu of the Port Melbourne, the Lapers were found to be just as incorrectly made u|> as were those of the vessel which arrived in Auckland a few days ago. Some confusion, too, had been caused on the voyage by altering the destination of the transport from Auckland to Wellington, which entailed a lot of extra work (in connection with the transport of every man who had to travel). To get over the difficulty the papers were secured as; Boon as possible, and a cta(f of forty were engaged in the task «f rectifying them, and so excellent was the work done that the last paper was finished as tile gangway was thrown ashore. Whilst in tho harbour, too, the men had to no inedically examined, their temperatures taken, and had to pss through inhalation chambers, r. little job that occuaied twenty nurses and twenty other assistants. There was not one abnormal temperature among the fifteen hundred men. It will be seen from this that whilst there may at times 1)0 cause for complaint at the delays that take placo in the landing of troops, there is a great deal of work to do, and in the cafe, of t'io ITororata it could not have been done in quicker time. Through tho City. To the skirl from tho bagpipes from the Wellington Pipe Band the first lot of men passed down the wharf, through the first barrier, where there was a corral of over a hundred cars, under the convrol of Captain W. Pryor, and as soldier .and his next-of-kin emerged from tho gates they were hurried into a car, tho address of their destination was given the driver, and off they went, Thanks to the excellent organisation of tho Voluntary Motor Corps and assistants, there was no hitch here from first to last. There were always cars waiting, right: up to tho last man for the shore. It was n line performance, and showed that when citizens are prepared to hili) great things can be easily accomplished, i'or the men most concerned the trip up-town must have been a very stimulating one. for from the King's Wharf to Urey Street was one long lano of peopic, who cheered themselves hoarse duriiia; the afternoon. First the cars had to pass between two motor lorry loads of girls from the Post and Telegraph Department, who had great fuu, showering the heroes with coloured confetti. Other young ladies strewed flowers in their path, threw kisses, and otherwise made the lads feel that they '. w;re really home at last. The Natives , Association Band, the Mission Band, the Watersides' and the Tramway and tho ; Salvatioi; Army Bands made glad nnisio along the crowded causeway, and continuously echoed the cheers of different ! HH-le nni'lip* wlici liiul linen, oreauised to

sIW'V their feelings in the open. Every windo," in the building along the line of the procession was occupied and bunting fluttered everywhere. It was a glad home-coming. Of the 1500 men on the Hororata some 450 went on to Auckland on Saturday evening by the transport; 450 went south by the Jlararou mi Saturday night, and some 500 were for Wellington and district. The Nelson men transferred immediately to tho Nikau, which sailed at once, and the Pictqn, Blenheim, and Westport men will leave by the Pateenn to-day. These complete arrangements had nil been carefully planned, and the men were informed that if they did not take advantage of them they would have to lake the responsibility of paying their own fares. Tho Walrarapa men got away by the afternoon train, but the Turanaki and Wanganui contingents will not leave until this morning. Such mnn who could not get away were billeted at the Hotel Bristol, Wentworth Hotel, People's Palace, Soldiers' Hostel, Grand Central, and Hotel Columbia, 'fhe Auckland men were giveu leave until 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, and placed upon their honour to return to the ship by that time in order that all would be in readiness to sail at 6 o'clock. : , It should be mentioned that early in the forenoon the men on the Hororata were liberally supplied with all manner of' "comforts" in the way of _ cakes, sweets, fruit, and cigarettes, "which included a handsome donation from tho ladies 67 the Civil Service, whose first appearance before the public as an organised body was certainly most impressive. The men of the Hororata were given the usual good time by the large-heart-od Vmericau penple in the Panama Canal zone. Such is the honour being done to our men, time after time, that it is suggested that the Government should make some formal acknowledgment of the lavish hospitality and courI tesy extended towards the I\ew Zealand troops whilst making the passage of the Canal. At Colon, the men were given a really <?plendid time. They were taken up to the town, and put up at a sort of big hostel or dub, and there given as much as they could cat and drink; the swimming baths were made available to tnem-ovorythiiifr was "bucksliee. Mo-tor-cars and lorries- were turned on to enable them to see the sights of the place, flight along the Canal the spirit of the Americans was <he same, and the treatment that is being meted out h our boys as they trail homewards is going to go far towards cementing the relations of the two peoples.

DANCE AT THE TOWN HALL On Saturday evening returned men were entertained by the Mayor (Mr. J. F Liike) and the Mayoress- at a dance in" tho Town Hall. A large number of men in uniform and in mufti were urcfcnt, and spent a pleasant evening in the'enioyment of the Mayors hospitality. The gallery of tho hall accommodated numerous spectators. Mr.D. Leslie acted as master'of ceremonies, ami the Patriotic Society's band played the music for the dances, of which an excellent programme had been arranßOd. Supper was dispensed in the hall. Notables present were: ihe ActingPrime Minister (Sir James Allen), the Minister of Public Health ('.he Hon. G. W Bussell), the Minister of Public Works (Sir William Eraser), His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman, Brigadier-Gen-eral-Sir Alfred Robin, K.C.M.G.. bur-scon-General Henderson, Liwitenant-Col-onol Sleoman, Colonel Collins, LieutenantColonel A. 13. Charters, and Captain HallThompson. _ Sir James Allen and the Hon. Mr. Bussell were both invited to address the Rathering. They did so very briefly, tending to the newly-returned men the heatriest of welcomes. ■ . Five entertainers, Miss Agnes Richardeon and Messrs. R: H. Metes W. Goudie, Norman Aitkcn. and M, Dixon (accompnniet) contributrd items to a shoit musical nnd elocutionary programme.

WELCOME TO SOUTHERN MSN IMMENSE CROWD AT CHRISTCHURCH. Ry Tolcirraph-Prcss Association. Christohiii'ch, March IG. The Mararoa. with the southern section of the Uororata's draft was bedecked with buiitiiiß when she entered Lytlolton Hnvbour this morning. Hugo crowds on the wharf Rave the men an enthusiastic reception. At the Christchurch railway station the men were ontlmsiaetically greeted by «n immense crowd of people, the largost seen there since the return of the first of the wounded men very early in the war. flio men will bo accorded a formal public welcome on Tuesday.