The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated "The West Coast Times.” SATURDAY, APRIL 9th, 1921. THE VICE-REGAL VISIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated "The West Coast Times.” SATURDAY, APRIL 9th, 1921. THE VICE-REGAL VISIT.

Ink week is made memorable by the pre.-win e oi tin- King s Representative in this country of the Antipodes—the Kovernor-GoiuTid. |.e»s than a rear ago we had the heir to (lie Throne in our midst.t;:-diiv it is the Admiral el the British licet. What rare honors to this fur off country in a crowded year! In Lord Jellicoe we have the modern Nelson, who led the British licet ill that greatest of sea lights .Jutland. Truly, it is an honour ind vd for Hokitika in particular, and Westland in general to have such a guest in its midst. In the Great War 1916 was considered the year of the turn of the tide in the fortunes of the conflict. A shorter history of the war period remarks that “the greatest naval victory of Jutland Bank, when the German Fleet made its showy hut vain attempt to win the mastery of the seas, marked the turn in affairs." Jutland, the principal event of the second year of the war, and the most notable naval event of the whole war took place on May 31-June 1, 1916. That engagement was the climax of the patient waiting and manoeuvring for the long looked for Day which the enemy had so long loaded, and so persistently avoided. And when the Day emne, what an igtiominous ending for the German licet scuttling to shelter and seeking to escape from the ‘‘prey” it had hoped to Semitic. Admiral Stir John .Jellicoe commanded in that decisive engagement, and time and the records have since shown how complete the victory was. The final act of Jutland was played some time later when the German Fleet was herded to Sea pa Flow—a defeated and surrendered entity of the once boastful enemy Admiral Jolllicoe was selected for his post by Admiral Fisher who gave Captain Jellicoe very sudden promotion. The choice of and the confidence in the naval captain selected f or file greatest task ever put upon a human individual was well placed, md history records now how capably and thoroughly the task was undertaken and the trust disposed of. Admiral Jellicoe's services to the nation and posterity rank with the highest in the land, and the sailor deserves to be acclaimed accordingly.

It is a pleasurable opportunity therefore to honour one so notable and above all one whose work in the war has been of such supreme importance to the world at large When we honour our soldiers and sailors for their war services we do so recognising the sacrifices they were prepared to make. Lord Jellicoe’s great services on the high seas and the responsihl position he had to fill, loaded him with a duty and a responsibility that the layman can hut faintly realise. The supreme master of the great fleet he controlled, however, must have carried responsibiities that estimate them as we may, >ur conception still fails to take in the 'hole weight of the great responsibility, rhoiisnnds of lives and millions of nioni.V were ip his keeping. These men nd those ships stood as the safeguard ictween millions of people and wealth ntold as representing the population nd value not only of the British Entire but of all the Allied countries, in ict, the world at large. Had Jellicoe (lied in 1 1 is mission to koop watch anrl nrd, and to check and keep in check j ie enemy which knew no check but. j orn force, the highways of ocean and ip lands across the seas, however re- 1 ote, would have been at the merrv of | ruthless enemy. Admiral Jellicoe was j s persoiDige who stood for victory as j ninst defeat, and to achieve that vie- ■ rv and win security, for the >i*ld now and for the years to come, ere was a task which never before d been set. He triumphed vietori- i slv. The story of Jutland has not an completely told yet. hut overv ase as it is revealed shows how the Imirnl prepared ip tulvapee, and

fought his fight in studied p;epnrntion before the event itself transpired. His prescience enabled him even to anticipate the probable manoeuvres of the enemy ships, and to lay his plans carefully in ad-, vance. In the whirl of the great conflict there was no sudden emergency for the Admiral who had lived up to the traditions of the British Navy—“Be prepared.” He was prepared and to him came victory confirmed as it was by the ignoble surrender which followed later.

It is a delight, therefore, to honor t dav this typical representative of Bi . tain’s sea power. The -nation has r posed always great confidence in i | first line of defence. In every phase the war, in every task the navy w; j called upon to perform, the Briti: I Navy lined and acted up to its noble j traditions. As the head of that gre : Navy it will he a great delight to hon ! Admiral Jellicoe, and to show him tl | respect we feel for the renown he ai ; liis wonderful men won in the time ai j face of greatest danger. The Navy noted for its silence. Deeds and n | words are its unexpressed motto, ai Lord Jellicoe in this respect has be< typically naval. He has had to fa , ' criticism from certain quartets, but tl 1 records are proving his case to the hi] | The armchair critics find it a comfoi I able business, perhaps, seeking for weak point in the armour of one wl had to face such great odds, and alo he responsible for the outcome of t conflict. But time is revealing t j work of the master mind in its tru perspective. Sidelights including ev< j enemy comment, are showing up t strength of his case, and in the end r get hack to the realisation of the fa that a beaten enemy scuttled hack its haven of refuge, there to take shi ter till emerging again, the victo were permitted without the firing ot shot to take their spoil. The victor Jutland is with us to-day, and as Ju land stands for so much in the progre and decision of the Great. War, qi debt of gratitude to the man who inthan anyone else made that victoi possible, must therefore be Utilities Admiral Lord Jellicoe was a grci figure in the war. He will he no less i peace. His deeds speak for him, no and always, and history will record h J place in our national supremacy. It a great honor to New Zealand to lnu as Governor-General one who has rei dered such distinguished service to tli Empire in particular, and as a sum portioil of the Dominion, loyal We land will lee*l specially honoured tlui for the week-end the hero of Jutland i sojourning with us. Admlkai, Jellicoe is specially welcome also, as the representative of the Kill}. 'Hie Kin as the head of the nation i the symbol of law ami order, wide observed loyally as they should stand for that national unite «hirh " hope- will ever mark the altitude o this portion of the Empire. Porhap at no time more than the present wa it more desirable to display in an out ward and visible way our attachment t the Throne of Britain. The world very unrestful, and the microbe of dii loyalty lias entered even into parts o the British Empire. It is well an occasion as the present that th people generally should not fail to sho\ their fealty to constitutional powers a represented by the Governor-Generfi who is the personal representative c His Majesty. This part of New Zen land has never been slow to express it loyalty, and to uphold its pronounce feelings of attachment to the Empire i a true and loyal spirit. When th Prince of Wales was here in May las the district did its part splendidly an will do so again now for the same : ing is abroad —loyalty and affection tc wards the Kingship. National succes is founded upon a contented people and contentment lias its source in con fidenee and regard. The personal free dom enjoyed under the constitution o the country gives the people the tulles license and say in the government the; create. There must be a head or rule whatever the form of government, anc the franchise, liberal as it is, gives till scope to all sections to have their sa; in the constitution of the parliainen which is the creature part of the gov entment controlling the country. Undei so liberal a system there should he tin fullest confidence in the instrument created by the people themselves, and from this fact has grown the stability of our democratic form of government. We should say that no greater democrat than Lord Jellicoe has been with us. He is of and from the people tltemselves, making his way in life by sheet merit and ability. His personal record stamps him its worthy indeed to he the King’s representative in this loyal Dominion.