ANZAC BAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1921, Page 1

ANZAC BAY.

[BY TELEGRAM—I’EII PRESS ASSOCIATION. AT WANGANUI. WANGANUI, April 25. Anzac Day was fittingly celebrated to-day. A largely attended religious service was held in Cook’s Gardens, after which a roll of honour was unveiled at tho Soldiers’ Club, returned soldiers being present in a considerable force. $ AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, April 25. To-day’s ceremonies in connection with Anzac Day were remarkable for their impressiveness. The morning service for children was held at the Cenotaph, and thousands of little ones attended, depositing wreaths and flowers at the foot. Later the wreaths were transferred to Karori cemetery, where many hundreds of soldiers lie. A short service was held at the Cenotaph, and the Last Post sounded. In the afternoon a memorial service was held at the Town Hall, which was crowded. Veterans, returned men, and Territorials joined in a simple but touching service. Tho only speaker of the afternoon service was Canon Feilden Taylor, whose impressive address was listened to with rapt attention. The Salvation Army played Chopin’s “Funeral March.” Mr Bernard Page, city organist, accompanied the singing of tho vast assemblage.

THE KING’S MESSAGE. AN IMMORTAL MEMORY. ~ AUCKLAND, April 23 The Governor-General issued the following Anzac Day message :—“His Majesty the King, commands me to tell the people of New Zealand that his thoughts are with them in the hours consecrated to the immortal memory of those who fell on the first Anzac Day. (Signed) .Tellicoe, Governor-General.” LORD JELIJCOE’S TRIBUTE. THAMES, April 25. At the Anzac Service in the theatrn there was a great muster of returned mom Lord .lellicoo and staff wore present.

In a speech Lord .Tellicoe said they must express undying gratitude for the gallantry of the N.Z.E.E. who fell on Gallipoli, in France, ami Palestine, in the fight for righteousness. The deeds that they did that day established a name and rocorjl which would live for ever in history. Ho read the King’s message. Continuing lie said that at Gaha Tope they showed tho world that spirit of endurance. From the moment they entered the boat or destroyer till tho position was consolidated they show

od that New Zealand soldiers were men of endurance and courage. Admiral do Robeck bad said they set a standard as high as any in history, and had won a name to be proud of. Through the months they hung on there were no rest camps on Gallipoli. Instances of individual gallantry were too numerous to mention. One was the capture of Table Top in August. Sir Tan Hamilton had said that neither steeps nor Turks could stop General Russell’s New Zealanders. The taking of Hill 60 covered New Zealand with glory. They and Allenby paid frequent testimony to the deeds of these men and their sacrifice' and endurable spirit would act as an inspiration to future generations. New Zealand would never forgot, for by honouring their memory she honoured herself. At Lord Jellicoo’s request, every returned man present in the hall was presented to Lady .Tellicoe.

IN AUSTRALIA (Received Tins Day at 8 a.in.) SYDNEY, April 25. Anzac day was celebrated by special services in all the churches and a commemoration service in the Town Hall attended by the Governor General and detachments of bluejackets and permanent soldiers. Before the service commenced a returned soldier approached the platform and stated there was not a flag flying outside the building, and hat the soldiers intended to lly .me Thereupon lie mounted the tower an 1 hoisted the Union Jack. Although not a public holiday, most of the shops and business places closed. The buildings were decorated with bunting. All other Slates observed the day ns a public holiday. Tn Melbourne, twen-ty-five thousand troops paraded the streets to the cricket ground where they were addressed by the Governor and Mr Hughes. Fine weather prevailed in all the States. TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN. LONDON, April 22. The King, in a letter to the organiser of the Anzac Day pilgrimage, rejoices to learn that this tribute will be paid once more at the graves of the brave men of Anzac who are buried in tho United Kingdom. He feels sure it will lie a source of comfort to their families in Australia and New Zealand. ENGLISH TRIBUTES. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 25.* Anzac Day service was held on Sic day on Plymouth Hoe. also at Walton vliere thirty thousand wounded New Zealanders were nursed. The banner which Walton, New Zealand, presented hearing the names of the fallen was carried at the head of a procession which deposited flowers on the An/.acs graves.

” Other places also arranged Anzac services and pilgrimages to the graves today.

ANZAC DAY LUNCHEON. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 25. Hon W. Churchill was the chief guest at the Australian and New Zealand Club’s Anzac Day luncheon at Connaught rooms. Sir James Mills presided. The assembly included Sir James Allen, the Agents General, Lord Decies, General Godley, General lan Hamilton. The guests for a moment stood in silence, in memory oT the Anzacs. Tn proposing the toast of Hon W. Churchill’s health, Sir James Mills said the Dominions would find him equally as able and sympathetic a friend as his predecessor. He was taking up the new duties at an eventful period, when the Dominions are in process of altering their status, and are now claiming to be sister nations, under one King and flag. Though prepared to bear a fair share in the defence of the Empire they were remaining at the same time free to pursue their own destinies. HON ML CHURCHILL’S SPEECH. (Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 25. Hon. W. Churchill replying, said this was an important year in the Empire’s life, owing to it being the first peace time meeting of the Imperial Cabinet, which would have to try to find a- way out of the confusion and chaos due to the war, and get back to prosperity, and studying of the protection and security of the Empire from military danger We must carry ■ u with the sense of cooperation which grew up during the war, to the problems of peace. He did not propose to attempt to anticipate the course of discussions, hut he had already furnished visiting Premiers with the fullest information on the subject, and sought suggestions thereon in view of the victory, a fact which would not pale with the passage of a few years Expert discussions would prove the most fruitful. We would unitedly face the problems of Empire, even the most perilous. He was therefore confident of a solution of peace time problems. (Cheers.) This was only one Anzac celebration of a series which would continue, as long as he Empire had pride in our own deeds. Nevertheless it was accompanied by a pride in the valour of the Twenty-ninth Division. (Cheers). He justified the Gallipoli venture on the ground of its hastening Italy’s and delaying Bulgaria’s entrance into the war and laying the foundation for the subsequent successes in Palestine and Mesopotamia. The time had not vet arrived to pass the final judgment in regard to the Dardanelles controversies, hut opinion was moving irresistibly to the conclusion that the overthrow of the Turks and the rallying of the Balkans was the only decisive step open to the Allies in 1915. Tie awaited calmly the final justification thereof. In conclusion he affirmed the intention to labour to the utmost to advance the Dominions interests and facilitate interimperial trade, carrying on work of his predecessors in the most sympathetic manner, as long as Australia and New Zealand were the homes of free races of British stock. (Cheers). There was sorrow as well ns pride in the celebration, but the sorrow will gradually lie eclipsed by the glory which will continue, and ho a permanent example for the inspiration of the British race (Cheers) The .\nzaos showed this in a justifiable manner.

MR HUGHES’ TRIBUTE. MELBOURNE, April 26. In connection with Anzac Day celebrations, Mr Hughes unveiled line bronze statue representing the spirit of war, erected in front of Parliament House. When paying a tribute to the An/.acs, ho declared the landing was an imperishable event, marking a new era in tlie history of the British Empire.