The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL, 23, 1927. ANZAC DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL, 23, 1927. ANZAC DAY.

Snow white, in ninny a serried line, The little crosses stand, Each cross a grave, each grave a shrine. The verbal picture which the wolds of the poet conjure in the mind of the leader is a reminder of why Anzac 1 Day, falling on Monday, should be a dav of remembrance and solemn coni- , incineration. In many an alien hind there are numerous serried lines of white crosses marking the graves ot our fallen—those who fell in the great war, that we might live here in peace. It is altogether to the credit of the British authorities that they have set a standard for the maintenance of tin graves of the fallen warriors that is an example to all the world. The great war developed into a war to end war. and there a call made upon the nation such as never before. And never !io tore was there so noble, and so wonderful a response. I‘ roni the ends of the world when the Empire called, there was the personal reply, so to speak, and every hamlet, as every city, sent its volunteer quota. In all walks of life, in all arms of the service', there wa-s a .response such as stirred the imagination ns to the might of the Empire. And of that noble force, that great aggregation of men and women of all creeds and color within the Empire, great toll was taken. Me in Xow Zealand have set apart Anzac Day to commemorate that universal sacrifice. That date is selected because it was on the 25th. April, 1915. that the Xew Zealand forces with their brothers in arms from Australia, underwent their baptism of fire. The landing of the Australian am?, Xew Zealand Army Corps on the beach below the heights of Gallipoli proved to he one of the epic stories of the war. The men made ready and willing sacrifice in the conflict- for supremacy, and so it is that that day has a peculiarly sacred memory, so much so that the legislature of the land reading aright the wishes of the people, has set it apart as a day of days more honored and respected even than a Sunday. It is a day which by common consent has been rendered particularly holy, and with us, in that spirit of reverence,

•will lie so remembered on Monday. Anzae Day is therefore an in memoria 111 dav nl peculiar solemnity. Ihe folk will gather together, and those who can recall the times of twelve and thirteen years ago when the alarms ami excursions of wartime were ringing through the air. a ill remember what an exacting period it Mas. Before the long drawn, out days of the war came to nil end everything was in the melting pot. The titanic elfort to hold the enemy called for a supremo sacrifice on behalf of Great Britain, and that obligation me not shirked. In spite of disaster and disappointment tin- nation hold on till the bugle calls rang out the long waited for command of “cease lire.’’ Keelings were released in those stirring times 0! the Armistice, hut even in the hour of victory, there was the feeling of deep ronietiibratiee for the fallen in Hie fray. And that feeling pervades the nation even more tensely now that time is afforded to soeriihile on what the individual saerilico meant. It was no light ordeal passing oil’ to war. Then' were rigors of all kinds to he faced, and the men who so nobly did their duty deserve tlm renienihraiice they receive nt these recurring anniversaries. Time is not withering the memory of the deeds of those days. Memory is Mill too poignant to forget. It is well that it so so. for it is well w should recall all that was ihoie in the Great. War lor the nations’ safety, and for the security the Empire and its oversea outposts continue to enjoy.