BEATTY’S VICTORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1373, 13 March 1915, Page 4

BEATTY’S VICTORY.

THE NEW ZEALAND IN ACTION.

In reply to Mr Mackenzie (New Zealand’s High Commissioner), who sent him a congratulatory telegram, “Well done, Halsey,’’ Captain Halsey wrote : “I thank you very much for your very nice telegram, and I can only assure you that all on board here, without any exception, put an extra amount of struggle into the action on Sunday, if such was possible, for the sake of New Zealand, our second home ; and every man realised that the great Dominion was watching and waiting tor the result. We never had a hitch in any way during the action, and everything worked to perfection. The ship quite eclipsed herself in the steaming way, far exceeding any pievious trials. The entire ship’s company, without exception, did their duty, and to the fullest extent, and we were lucky enough to receive no damage or casualties, and we are now ready again to engage the enemy.

“I put on the costume given to me by the Maoris, and also bad the tiki with me, which I know would please them if they knew it. Also the silk ensign flew throughout the action, and, if necessary, will fly again, though it is much reduced in size. But I keep all the old frayed-out bits to send back to the Dominion as a token for coming generations. These I propose to send to you and ask you to have them conveyed to your Government should they desire to have them.

“In conclusion, I can only say that all on board here will continue to do their very utmost for the Empire, always remembering that New Zealand has her eyes specially focussed on the ship that was so magnanimously and unhesitatingly given to that Empire in order to share the burden. The action was for me personally fought on a specially suitable day, being the tenth anniversary of my wedding day, and as a sailor looks on bis ship as his wife, and as I could not be with Mis Halsey, how better could I have been employed than in taking my other wife into action with the King’s enemy and endeavouring to get her into the performance of the duty for which New Zealand built her ? My best wishes are with you and Mrs Mackenzie and all New Zealanders.’’