LIFTING OF SECRECY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20125, 20 December 1939, Page 5

LIFTING OF SECRECY

CANADA CELEBRATES NO LEAVE-TAKINGS VOYAGE IN FOG (Reed. Dec. 20, 9 a.m.) OTTAWA, Dec. 18. Celebrations were held throughout Canada when it was learned that the Canadian contingent had arrived in England. With the lifting of the veil of secrecy, the newspapers are filled with accounts of the assembly and departure, both of which were triumphs of organisation..

Trains carrying 400 to 600 troops operated over a period of days. All were timed to arrive at Halifax at two-hour intervals over three days.

The sailing date %as kept the closest secret. There were no leavetakings at the waterside. Indeed, Halifax saw nothing of the men.

The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, and members of the Cabinet stood on the dock alone on a chill, grey Sunday morning as the long line slipped out to sea. Never before have troops travelled in such elegant surroundings. Several transports were famous luxury liners.

Mr. John Buchan, the Governor' General’s son, is a member of the con. tingent.

The correspondents accompanying the troops testify that the Navy has a sense of humour. Concerning the only incident en route, when the transports strayed in a heavy fog, the correspondents record that a scouting destroyer signalled: “Read Luke 15, 6.”

The first Australian to reach England on active service landed with the Canadians. He is a former pantomime actor who was recently mining at Trail, British Columbia. Sir Hubert Wilkins, in offering his. services to the Canadian Government, said the Australian Government had told him he would not be needed immediately.

“Being a colonial, I am more anxious to serve in the Dominion forces than the Motherland’s,” he said.