ANZAC DAY IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 182, 28 April 1919, Page 7

ANZAC DAY IN LONDON

AUSTRALIANS'MARCH THROUGH

THE CITY

NEW ZEALANDERS NOT REPRESENTED

A BELATED INVITATION

By Teleeraph-Presfl Aesoclation-Oopfrisht. London, April 25. It was a perfect English spring morning, With bright sunshine, and the Mall was crowded, when tho Australians commenced their march, headed by Lieut.General Sir John Jtonash and MajorGeneral Sir J. J. T. Hobbs. There were thousands of other Australians along tho route, including a number, of limbless men in self-propelling bath-chairs. Tho Nelson Memorial steps wore packed with Anzaos, one of whom was on top of a lion's head. Another popular/centre was Australia House, in order to greet tho Prince of Wales. There a detachment of Indian veterans was drawn up at thn ealuting-point, representing the Indians who served on Gallipoli. The Monnteds weio a splendid body of picked men, representing the heroes who captured Gaza, Jericho, and' Damascus. The Australian Artillery, represented by an eighteen-pounder battery, followed. Brigadier-General Heano led the First Division, whose battlo honours included Gallipoli, Pozieres, Bnlleconrt, ami Rosenthal., Brigadier-Generals E. A. Wisdom and J. C. Eobortson led the Second Division, who fought at BroodEoinde, Mont Saint Quentin, and Atontbrehain. Brigadier - Generals W. K. VNiooll and Jess rode ahead of tho Third Division, which was formed on Salisbury Plains, on July IG, 1916, and which fought at Massinos, Passchonctoele, and on the Hindonburg lino. Brigadier. General Leane led tho Fourth Division, of which the Fourth Brigade partook in the Ansae landing ami the Battle of San-Bair. i Brigadier-General Stowart, as deputy for Major-General Hobbs, led tho Fifth Division, the heroes of the glorious tragedy of JYomclles and the, victories of Bapaume, Polygon Wood, and Peronne. Tho procession reached Victoria Station at 10.15 a.m., and Westminster Abbey at 11 a.m., and from there it went 'by Parliament Street, through huge crowds in Trafalgar' Square, from whero it turned into the Strand, tho head of the column reaching Australia Houso at 11.17 a.m.

Hero tho Prince of Wales took tho salute. Hβ was accompanied by Mr.Winston Churchill (Minister for War). Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and ,membftrs of tho Army Council, MajorGeneral Sir Henry Chauvcl, aud General Sir W. R. Birdwood, who was tho :e----cipient of a flattering reception by tho Australians, who recognised tho "Soul of Anzac." There were many prominent Australians, including Ministers and their wives, on the balconies and at lie windows of Australia House, which was oharmingly , decorated with Australian emhlerns, the columns being festooned with laurels;

The Press and public enthusiastically reinarlc on the splendid marching of tho Australian troops. The Australians marched through tho city with fixed bayonets.- This was a noteworthy innovation, as that right hitherto had been .reserved for regiments associated with the city. Australian aviators performed intricate (volutions at low altitudes along th 6 route. The only l-egrot was that the New Zenltmdere wore not represented in connection with tho historio ocoasion, in which they earned a full share of tho glory with tho Australians. The procession reached the Honourable Arhllory Company's Headquarters at 12 o'clock, where lunched was quickly served to all the men, apart from 850 officers and men who had luncheon at the Manj sion House, the Lord Mayor and Mr. W. M. Hughes nnd other Ministers, sitting (down with tho men to ft. thoroughly British repast, consisting of roast beef, plum pudding, and beer. I When lunch was finished, tho men at tho Honourable Artillery Company's Headquarters aim! the Mansion House dispersed,, nnd found their way to His Majesty's Theatre. Mr. Oscar Asche lent the theatre. The programme included George Bobey, Harry Tate, Violet Loraine, and other leading British \and Australian ontertainers. . Other, men went to the Holborn and tho Empire, wfiere there were similar special entertainments. Tho audience included nurses and many wounded men from tho hospitals. At the Anzac luncheon Mr. W. M. Hughes said he hoped to take back to Australia tidings that liberty and freedom had been secured for ever by tho Peace Conference. Australia i.ail also fought for the right to keep Australia for the Australians and to govern its own land in its own way. As Franco must (have the Rhine frontier, so Australia nriust lraxe such a frontier. The difference between the leasehold and the freehold of the Pacific islands mattered naught.

Sir John Monash also responded for Australia. Ho described Villers Breton, noux as tho crisis of the whole var, and said that but for the success of tho Australians at Villers Bretonneux, Amiens would liayo fallen in four days and tho Britisli have been separated from the French. Lord ililner and Mr. Andrew 'Fisher (Australian High Commissioner) proposed the health of the lord Mayor, the boys einging "ii'or he's & Joliy Good' Fellow." General Birdwood, in response to a unanimous eiy for "Birdwood," delivered an impromptu speech, in which lie paid a tribute to the Australians who had won Victoria and Military Crosses, but said.that no , 'crosses, were more honourable than the .wooden crosses erected on the grave.? of the dead. There was somo comment on the absence of the New Zealandere, who wero invited to join at a into stage, a fact that caused some Tesentment.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES (Rec. April 27, 11.40 p.m.) ' London, April 27. General Godley has telegraphed to General lan Hamilton heartiest greetings on behalf of all ranks of New Zealandera under General Hamilton's command at tho landing at Anzac. Admiral de Robeel; telegraphod greetings from sailor friends in memory of tilts • groat landing, so nobly won by the gallant fellows. Rkar-Admiral Keyes sent congratulations from Scapa Flow.—Aii3.N.Z. Cable Assn.