ADMIRAL JELLICOE'S FAREWELL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 7, 3 October 1919, Page 7

ADMIRAL JELLICOE'S FAREWELL

TRIBUTE TO BRITISH SEAME.N. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, October 2. Speaking air Oiiolwnga to-day after receiving a gift of a casket made of wood taken from the wreck of 11.1t.5. Orpheus, Lord Jellicoo said the wreck of that vessel was/not onlv a great disaster, but it was also to De remembered for tho behaviour of great gallantry on the pari, of the crew of the British man-of-war. The seamen had worthily upheld tho traditions of the British race, those traditions which had been upheld during the present war to an even greater extent than* ever before. It was tlie same spirit that lie saw displayed, on .the occasion of the sinking in the Mediterranean of It.M.S. Victoria, in 1893, when the ship's company fell in on the upper deck, and ns the yessel gradually sank waited for the order that they knew would come, "Every man save himself," an order which was not given until tho ship was on her beam ends, but not a man stirred until that order was given; It was the same spirit that was displayed in every shipwreck of our splendid mercantile marine, the same spirit that officers and men of that service lmd shown when their vessels were torpedoed, and very often there were no bouts left to save them. The„meti-hail gono down with cheerfulness and resignation. It was the same spirit which our soldiers had . displayed. It was the same spirit-which had made, the young, Dominion of New Zealand what it.was. In spite of-'every difficulty the pioneers had carried Oil. New Zealanders had a great 'heritage before them, and lie. fell quite pertain that they would displav that splendid spirit of loyalty which he had witnessed wherever he met them. He felt sure tho children would carry on the Dtiminion on the same lines as those on which their-forefathers had started it as a model to other parts of the Empire. Such' a Dominion as that was worth living for, mid it was nlso worth fighting for. In the hour of the Empire's danger New Zealand had always come to the front. Now Zealand mnt had the opportunity of 'helping the British Navy, and he had no doubt whatever that New Zealand would take advantage of that opportunity. The safety of . the British Empire meant the safety of Now Zealand. They stood or fell together, New Zealanders had over been full of loyalty to the Kin? and Erppirc. They had ever gone to the front when the Empire needed them, and would, he was sure, co-operate r.nd support, the [British Navy in the future. As that was perlmp- the last occasion ; on which he would address I'l'.e neonl" of New Zealand in public, the Admiral, said he would like In .remark thai while no one disliked public speaking morethan he did, he almost )'lmt it was liis last occasion. His heart wiw snd Ihnt thoy were leaving, this bonuli-. i ful country. Since he and Lady..Tellicoe Im-i 1,/, en in New Z''."Jnn<l i'hev had met with a most wirmdiparlcd welcome, 'Hie Admiral assured the people of their deeji gratitude.