LORD ALLENBY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1926, Page 2

LORD ALLENBY.

AUCKLAND WELCOME

BV TELEGRArir —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT, AUCKLAND, Jan. 27. “Tell tho officers and men who were with me in Palestine that I am very pleased to be in their country. I am looking forward to seeing them again,” was the message given to tho Press by Field-Marshal Viscount ~£l-_ lenby on his arrival by the Uliraax roa to-day. “Lady ..Allenby and I are simply tourists; what the Americans call “Rubber necks.” AVc want to see your country merely as holiday-mak-ers.” They were met by Colonel J. IT. Whyte,. and Lord Allenby’s response was in a deep voice that could ho heard along the deck. It was easy to imagine the memorable occasion when he roared out his intention to get tho whole Turkish Army. He remarked that he did not wantsocial functions. He wanted to see the country. The visitors were brought ashore" bv the Harbour Board launch, and motored to Government House as the guests of tlie Governor-General. A civic reception was held at midday.

Lord Allenby’s stay of eleven hours in Auckland was extremely busy. Front his arrival on the Ulimnroa. he was engaged with official calls and receiving private visitors at Government House. Representatives of the Jewish community, of Auckland, waited upon him, and paid their tribute to* him a.s liberator of Palestine. Rev. SA. Goldstein said that as Minister tothe Anckand Hebrew Congregation, and in tho name of the Zionists fit the Dominion, he deemed it a great pleasure to offer personally their tribute of respect and admiration to Lord Allenby, who liad composed the prelude to the Balfour Declaration. ITis association with the Hebrew University. hotli at the laying of the foundation stone and at the opening, ami his sympathetic, interest in tli.o movement, had endeared him to Zionists throughout tho world. Tn a new chapter of Jewish history which the Balfour Declaration had opened, his name? would shine with distinction.

Mrs David Nathan, on behalf of the Jewish women of New Zealand, also voiced a tribute. She referred particularly to the establishment by New Zealand women of infant welfare centres in Palestine on the Plunkct system.

Lord Allenbv, in reply, stated Graft it gave him pleasure to he of service to tlie British Empire, but it was a greater privilege to have been the liberator of Jerusalem. He knew, personally, and was a great admirer of the leader of the Zionist movement, Dr C. AVeizmnan. After the capture of Jerusalem, Dr AVeizmami had unfolded to him his plans for the development of Palestine. Following the issue of tho Balfour Declaration, he had remarked at the time that he considered Dr AVoizinaini’s plans were somewhat idealistic and visionary, but at tho opening of the Hebrew University ill Jerusalem, at which he and Lady Allenby were present, he had the pßeassure and privilege of renewing 'his friendship with Dr AVoizniann, and congratulated him on the fact that, not only had his original plans been realised, hut even exceeded. He referred in detail to the wonderful development of Palestine, and particularly tho amazing growth of flic Jewish City of Telaviv. AA’here formerly had existed only a few sand dunes, there had grown lip in the space of a few years a city of 30,000 inhabitants with modern buildings that would compare more than favourably with, those of older cities. The progress of the past six years would be doubled, and even trebled in the next few years. The Balfour Declaration, which was now part of the policy of the British, £&npire. had been endorsed by all the world Powers. The future of Zionism was absolutely assured.

'the scene at the civic reception was' memorable, tho Town Hall concert chamber being packed, and as Viscount and Viscountess Allenby appeared on tho platform they were accorded lopd and prolonged applause. Tn introducing Lord and Lady Allenby to the audience. and welcoming them to Auckland. the Mayor (Mr G. Baildon) saul the city of Auckland had. on occasions, been privileged to welcome within its gates illustrious representatives ofjic Empire's navy and army, amongst whom, in this connection, occurred to him the names of Viscount Jellicoe and Earl Kitchener, but it was tlie first time he thought Auckland had had the pleasure to extend a most cordial welcome to a Field Marshal. (Applause). Mr Austen Carr (President of the* Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association) also extended a warm welcome.. Tho morale of the force depended upon 1 th man at its head. When Lord Allenby went to Palestine, tlie Army was sadly in need of many necessary things, chiefly aeroplanes and artillery, but they soon came after the visitor took command. (Applause). “I will remember the feeling of confidence that went through our nfefiks when Lord Allenby came to inspect us,” said Colonel MoCarroll, “blit t can tell you that, when lie came to inspect us, lie was very much inspected himself.” (Laughter). I-ord Allenhv’s visit recalled the great victories of Palestine, nights of hard riding, and 1 times of worry, but all hardships were forgotten in the splendid results that were the crowning feature of the cam-

paign. I.ORD ALLENBY ON N.Z. TROOPS.

Loud applause and cheers greeted j Lord AHenby, as he rose to reply. “T never felt how wise and how united is the British Empire till to-day,” he ! liegan. “Aly wife and t have travel- , led over 12,000 miles, and to-dav Ave find ourselves received as citizonS.Y./)f the Empire. 1 find myself amongst old friends. I want to thank you ill every way for the welcome you have extended to myself, and also my wife. A'ou cannot know how much I value the privilege of meeting again the New Zealanders who helped in the war, and I value the services they rendered with the geatest given. It is probable that the New Zealanders in Palestine endured sonic of the most trying conditions of all who took part in the great war. The heat and dust cannot lie understood* except by those who were there. The heat was terrible. This month the flies died ; the next the men died. That pride of race and self-con-trol of the New Zealanders in the -lordan \ r aMey were almost without jitwallel.” (Applause). AVlien the troops were withdrawn on two occasions, it was by his orders, hut he felt confident the men would have held their ground had such been desired. He had the greatest faith in the men, and they in him. On the third occasion in the autumn of 1918 the New Zealanders went over the top of the mountains. Once more if. was a brilliant performance, and he did not think the men ever received full recognition by the public at large. No better action was recorded during the. war than that of the New Zealanders on the mountains of Gilhead. Since the war ended, there had lieen many smaller wars in Europe but be believed the action of our troops in Palestine and Syria bad done much to make war on a large scale jo the east impossible. Lord and Lady Allenbv left for A\ ellington to-night'. .