ANZAC DAY IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 183, 29 April 1919, Page 5

ANZAC DAY IN LONDON

SPEECHES BY AUSTRALIAN STATESMEN

TRIBUTES TO, A GREAT

OCCASION

By Telegrapli--Pres3 Association- Copyright London, April 26.

Mr. W. M. Hughes, Sir Joseph Cook, and Senator Pearce delivered speeches from the stage of His Majesty's Theatre. They paid tributes to the heroism of the Anzacs, and Senator Pearce promised them something -more substantial than, hand-clapping when they, returned to Australia. Mr. Hughes, in dealing with the problems of reconstruction, said he was delighted to see, the way the Austral* ian soldiers had dealt with the Brisbane Bolsheviks." Mr." Hughes, addressing another body of.. Australians, wished them a speedy and safo return. He regretted lie could not yet accompany them, because.' although the war was over; tha peace which wns now going on bade fair to be longer, if riot bloodier, than ths wai. The Australian Y.M.C.A. hold an An* zac Day memorial service at the Aldwych Theatre. At Salisbury Plain there were sports, and theatre entertainments were given at Weymouth,' and three hundred Australians were given.hospitality in private homes. • • • ~; Bishop Erodsham conducted an Anzao memorial service in Gloucester Cathedral/

~' .7'... ..Hair-raising Stunts. The'mo'str'striking-feature of the celebrations was the hair-raising "stunts" of Australian pilots, particularly one in a red" Sopwith, who was promptly christened the Red Devil. • He travelled at a terrible speed and sloped and nose-dived) almost among the chimney pots, and seemed to be in imminent. of getting entangled in telephone wires or crashing into the steeple of St. Mary la Strand. . His. daring', revolutions caused women tft',s;fte.am',y;';,',' There- demonstration after passed Australia Hou6e. Australians among the spectators swarmed in from every whore and pushed the police easily aside. They gathered round the dais cheering tha Prince of Wales, and Sir Douglas-Haig, and demanding the Prince of Wales to shake hands. The Prince has never had a more cordial reception.—Aus.-N Z,> Cable Assn.

KINGLY. COURTESY. •s London, Apr.il 2G.. . King George, ■ with'tho'Prince of Wales, Prince Albert, and the Princess • -Mary, while riding in Windsor Park, spoke te n party of sightseeing Australian soldiers. They inquired into their war experiences and wished them a safe joun nev to Australia.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESS FELICITATIONS. London, April 20. The. "Manchester Guardian" states: "Australasia in proportion to'its populaHon is the most accomplished and most formidable Power in the world. AH ranks of tho Australian ami New Zealand troops have shown extraordinary military qualities. Sir John Monasli is onij of the most skilful of the Allies' generals, and his staff and divisional com' manders havo displayed exceptional capacity. The encirclement and capture of Villers Bretonneux- was a masterpiece of design and execution. We should acknowledge frankly that the Australasian troops aro superior to Britain's average, which is duo to tho Australasian 'social, economic, and political life, which is liiore favourable to tho production of high vitality, self-reliance, and rcsonrco than our obsolete village, feudalism, and crude factory system Australia possesses an army of skilled veterans, with as many glorious names on their colours as tho' British regiments which fought throughout the Napoleonic wars." The "Observer," commenting on Anzao Dav and paying a tribute to tho Australians' talent for organisation, saya that, the Australians are justly proud of their staff work, tho work of many besides tho staff, and their admiriistrativo efficiency. The journal ndds:—"Their bravery! with foresight, and initiative with preparation, constitute astonishing records- of success."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.