WHO WON THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3507, 9 June 1920, Page 5

WHO WON THE WAR.

Speaking at the reception on his arrival in Wellington on Thursday, General Birdwood said in reply to this question he always replied: “I didn’t win the war.” But he might ea‘; that they had all won the war together.’ The war had been won by the bravery of their soldiers, the might of the British Navy, and the high morale of their people. (Applause) ‘ When he said this he did not wish to forget. that the Almighty Providence had assisted and guided the British to safety. He wished to say that the men who had died on Gallipoli had not died in vain. Those who had seen the men die there would tell that the men died willingly, facing death with squared shoulders, walking cheerfully erect, looking death straight in the face smiling. They knew they were fighting for freedom, fighting for the women and children of their own land. The Gallipoli expedition was not a failure. It was quite true that they did not reach their objective, but it was also true that they destroyed the flower of the Turki:sll army. The Turks had to send the best .of their troops there, a.nd the Turks themselves called it the “slaughterhouse.”_ This destruction of the flower of the Turkish army laid the foundation for Lord Allenby’s victories later in Palestine. One other point he wished to mention in connection with Gallipoli. He understood that New Zealand had been presented by the British Government with the cruiser Chatham, It had been mentioned that he had carried out the evacuatiol_l'_of Gallipoli, and this unenviable task,_he_had carried out on the cruiser Chatham. On this"ship he had spent. the three most anxious nights of his life. When at last Cape Helles came to be evacuated, ne had reported that, given fine wea-ther and enough small boats, he could guarantee to carry out the evacuation withovzt loss. Again the hand of Providence intervened. The weather held tine, and the evacuation was successful.

The general made a reference also to the visit of the Prince Jf Wales.

,“Ladies and gentlemen md old diggel‘s)” General Birdwood concluded, “I don’t know whether I ‘hill ever meet you again, but in case E sh wuld not meet you, and especially the boys among you, I do wish you f.om «he bottom of my hesu-t—ha'9piness and prosperity all y.our-slivess, and, the best thing that can come to any man or woman, the best or good :.ea'tt‘n for many years to come.”

General Birdwood sat down az..n'd continued cheering. V