IMPRESSIVE SCENE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 127, 29 April 1940, Page 8

IMPRESSIVE SCENE

SECOND ECHELON TROOPS. LARGE AVELLINGTON CROWDS. Per Proas Association. AVELLINGTON, April 27. If anything, there was an even i bigger crowd out this morning for the march of the Second Echelon than was the case with the first, and it was more demonstrative, though there was a complete ah- j senco again of any suggestion of [ lip service to patriotism. j The whole of the route was lined with a dense mass of people of all ages, with children prominent ill front and many behind held shoulder high by their parents or total strang-, ers as the case might he, and every window and verandah carried its complement of people eager to see the inarching men, with a special greet- j i.ng or elieer for those they knew. ]t| was a good march. The bearing of the men was that of soldiers, little trace of the civilian appearing in any of | them, and the impression they created was one of pride and confidence and that they would do their job. A bevy of nurses came in lor special recognition all along the route. The .crowd was less concentrated at Parliament Buildings than was the case with the First Echelon, lack of shelter when rain started thinning it out. ACHILLES MEN’ PARTICIPATE. The ceremony followed tlie lines of the previous parade, but added interest was given in the decorating of four officers of the Achilles by -the Gover-nor-General (Lord Galway) for their part in the Battle ot the River Plate, rhe officers and men of the Achilles headed the procession, with the Band of the Second Echelon leading the way. Returned soldiers acted as a guard of of honour by lining both sides of the route from Parliament grounds to the Citizens’ AVar Memorial, which the soldiers saluted as they marched past, and the same men formed a guard afterwards in the vicinity of the railway station, where the men entrained for their return to camp. Though rain fell fo~ a period while the troops were at Parliament House, the people were favoured in that it cleared off for the march. It had rained heavily all night, a southerly prevailing, but it was evident by S o’clock that conditions would improve. PREMIER’S FAREAVELL. “I know that tiiosc fighting overseas will nobly pertorm the tasks allotted to them and I would like to assure them to-day that those who remain behind will not fail in their tasss either,” said the Prime Minister (lion. P. F’raser), addressing the troops at Parliament House. Tncy were there to do honour to the soldiers of the Second Echelon and he wished the men to know that their ready response had been received with deep gratitude by their fellow countrymen. “We take great pride in the fact that our soldiers are volunteers upon whom no compulsion has been brought to bear, that our army is composed of men who hear willingly the arms they have so freely taken up, who have weighed the issues for themselves, and each of whom nas responded to the call of his own conscience,” he added. To-day it was clear to everyone that the cruel fate of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark and Norway would be ours if we failed in the hour of danger, hut there would bo no failure. The British peoples had taken up the challenge with a full realisation of the sacrifices involved and a grim determination to rid the world once and all of the monstrous force which had come to he a continual menace to all peace ancl freedom. Air Fraser said that the interests of the men going overseas would not he neglected. “We will see to it that their dependants are cared for and that thev themselves on their return will he reabsorbed into the everyday life of the community in a manner that befits the risks and sacrifices they are now undertaking on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand,” ho said. “I desire to wish you a victorious and just conclusion to the struggle upon which you arc now engaged.” AVORTIIY SUCCESSORS. Hon. A. Hamilton t Leader of the Opposition, said: “Aon are a force worthy ol our traditions. I am absolutely certain you are l>eing farcwelled by a very proud and very grateful people.” If he were asked to sum up in one word the quality which had brought honour to the name of New Zealand lie would choose courage. That quality was found personified in our pioneers, in the Anzacs, a.nd in all men of the First Expeditionary Force, “men whose honour and glory is your inheritance. Yon are worthy successors to defend that honour. I see in your faces the strength of purpose of men who appreciate the task confronting them and who face it with courage and resource.”