From Gallipoli.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1915, Page 5

From Gallipoli.

WILLOCHRA AT WELLINGTON

I'lrnXUI.Y U'KLCt .MKI) fIuMK. SPEECHES AT TOWN HALL. si:i;\'k i:s in' ntksios Kur.oinsKii. lly Telegraph.--I'r.-ss As.-oeiation. \Yoi!i:i,:c:i, Y,-tcrdav. Tin- Wilh.chi-a rrr'.ieil in port last night, bring in- H:i \, w Zealand olVicers and men from (hillipoii. The cases on board are M-iir,!u!c,i a-: Invalids, four oii'e ci's and Klii men; wounded, eight officers and Km in.:,, _'.-> of whom are stretcher' ea-c. Kai-ly in the morning the 'Ministers of 111-fence and I'ubii,: Health visited the ship, the men being medically examined, paid, and arrangements made for their (iis'pat.-h fo their homes. Later the Premier went on hoard, and welcomed the «■:i:mdod,.v,l,o arc in charge of Captain Mitchell, medical olliccr, and Major AHKenzie, military oflieer The medical staft' were assisted hy eight Australian nursing sisters, of whose good work the men speak in the highest praise. Except for the intense lieat in the Red Sea, the voyage was most delightful, and served to set the mon „,, ;,, the in<ot wonderful way, and wounds healing most satisfactorily. There is only one man on beard who has lost a iim-b,. Lieutenant Teake, of Cambridge, who is without his right arm. The men look remarkably well and are in excellent spirits. The town is gaily decorated with bunting, am! immen-e crowds were at the wharves in nnticiisation of the ship being berthed at the Glasgow 'Wharf at two o'clock.

Wellington, Last Night. The city was ready, on behalf ~f herself and the dominion, to befittingiy receive the inrn. limiting flouted fr.'im every public building, and every ship in harbor had streamers of flags. Til.! Town Hall o„;iy flaunted many long strings of gay flags from every pinnacle, and they also extended down in front of buildings and across the street. The day was observed as a half holiday -for the «chools and public scivice, and for most shops and business places generally. Crowds were in the streets an lio.it before 2 o'clock, and the route was he:i-!iy lined all the way to the wharves. The (Glasgow wharf wns reserved for th» next of kin of soldiers, numbering abi.t't snno.

As the Willoehri rounded the outer tec of the wharf, "Home, Sweet Home" was wafted out to then) from a band on the wharf. Then arose great bursts of cheering from flliisgovv wharf. were taken up by the crowd on the neighboring wharf as the liner came alongside, and relatives of the men, in their anxiety burst the barriers and shouted welcomes as they rushed down the wharf.

'The arrangements for ike procession were excellent. Soon a long line of motor cars, bearing soldiers, was ready to proceed to.the Town Hall. Headed by the Salvation Army band the procession set off through a" dense mass of people. Every vantage point along the route w:>s packed. The enthusiasm of the crowds was nnmistakablef cheering people waved flags here and there, and flowers wvre tossed into the motor cars. ( The men themselves seemed to enjoy the homecoming very much. ADDRESSES OF WELCOME.

When all the returned soldiers had filtered the Town Hall, the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, addressed them. " Soldiers from the fighting line, and those that have been invalided home,'' he said, "'to-day marks an epoch in the history of th« dominion. On this memorable occasion we welcome you'back home, and tender you our admiration and thank* for your work done in the interests of Xew Zealand and also of the- British Empire. Voa have heroically engaged the enemy in the fighting line. I will not take up yovj time making speeches this afternoon, but I want to say some, words of welcome. I ask you to bear in mind the" memory of those who Lave not been so-successful as the soldieM returned to-day—the sons of Xew Zealand, who harve laid down their lives in the interests of the whole people of the Empire. We should not be unmindful of tlio wives, mothers and sweethearts of thos« who have succumbed. All honor to theii memory. Xcw Zealand will always respect the memory of those who gave their liv-os in this great war. We welcome you all home to the most welcome spot in the world. The whole people of Xew Zealand are receiving you to-day. We are not hero in the name of Wellington only; your hearty welcome is coming from every man, woman and child in the country, who will see. that those who have offered their lives do not want. I have received many messages to give you, and all express the finest appreciation of your work." t Mr. Luke then read a telegram from j Mr. A. M. Myers, on behalf of the Mayor I of Auckland, welcoming the .courageous I soldiers who were returning thai day. His Excellency the Oovernor was the I next speaker.' " Fellow-soldiers," he

said, "as a soldier my address will im short. As the representative of his Majesty the King T want to welcome you back to these shovs. ] i-peiik personally as a soldier to soldiers. We are all proud of what yon have dune, and of the mime you have earned for .Yew Zealand. You have come Lack with your, mind's enlarged, and- your ideas broadened in re.-pect ;.., matters, men and peoples. T should liki' to have a chat with every one of yon. As the Mayor said, the citizens 'h.v.e given yon a royal welcome, m,;. :.niy r.-oin the capital lit v. nut from every town, village and d'i-trict of X,\ Zii.hmd. You have, seen tin- oiithiisiL:sm. with which they have ".'reeled those v.'1.0 sllllVi' in a righteous caiec, and for them we are glad' to see yon homo on c core. 1 have been on active -irvbo, ..ml know what it is to be non:e e.gain. 1 hope that all in the room ..■■:!'-.. n he well again, surrounded, n->th'". a.e. with kind relatives and friend*.'; ' T :.r 'is all 1 have to say. .May tr.e h;.f,.if link go with von w'herevcr \oii g;>.' • Luke, rose u> ,- y tcrt he had omitted to inenti. it tie. Australian nurses who had cared "■ : : e men on the vovage. and be e'.pr, -m-;1 !;:.- appreciation'of their good v..,r!;. "1 am sorry that I eaaat/. address sou as fellou'-'soldiirs." 'said trie Prime Minister, the flight !fi;. '.'v. J'. Masse.v. "'1 can only >nv. sohlurs of the King. 1 join with the .Mayor and the Governor in a hearty '.vclc-jii.c to von all. We on tlio -phi Win speak for the whole country, individually'-and collectively, and extend the htflitiest welcome it is possible to convey. Only a few months ago yon were, sent off from this city, and it was predicted'that you would do your duty, and do credit to voursclvosi and lis. Yon have'done all these--(applaiiM'l- and have not. been found wanting. You .; . c ,roved your selves good men and feed toMirrs, worthy descendants' of your Tvho under the great captain-, of past years founded the. .Empiric, ;h;k -v.e. tire, bound to protect, You facexl mid -happy.?., .vyu liijiuv- vtutM back gay, f.ci'Yti 'ftf-which

f ' art will lie aide to point at tOTOO ffli !..■■ ■iiiy ;ls received wlim lii'nnnffljj |l-n 'i I 'i ,-ri!:isli t'n-nt Britain, t,\liiell waS i v ■■ neil. by tin; courage and heroism j !■:' ' -■ ruldiers, iiiul the self-p.ai-j-ifice and

;-.i. '.disin of hrr citizens. The battlft or :-i!lipol!i will go down in history afl oi;i' in -u'h! ii our soldiers fought against g:\vl. («Ms. When tlie war ramc New /i.-:.!.i':il (.ok ii]) tin' burden of J'impire, ami the will never lay it, down. Wo iiiurni. :\n.l will never n-a-o to mourn, I'd.- tin' f.illi'ii. Our sympathies go out to tl.-Y lfl::: : Ves, Imt we will light on, ami intend u, do m> till the v.r.i oihlh, and a iicai" ; rot-Iniiiu-d satisfactory to Cicat Jiritam ami her Allies. Tliat i» tie 'position. WY do honor to tbc brave im-n .lighting for us on the other aide of !.■!!• v.<::-1.;. I' endorse what tli» 'Ma/or mi;.l about the nurses. 1 went on 'lioiinl, ami (yoke to tin- men, who spoke of then in the possible -tenim. Tln-v ■wen glad i„ get homo; '.-.•!, but tlici wen- sorry to leave the ship and tlir iioivi... [ thank the nurses, on ;be- • half -of tin- country, for taking smh good fan' of on.- men. and when tin: war is ov. :• and their duty done. [ hope tlfey "'ill cast i : , their lot with Nov/ Zealand. I. sac If, ii,,. c.ddiciv, in conclusion: Von l;.iy,. come hack U> your country and your friends, and I'wish you many year.-, of health and happiness!" He 'Alii:;-*,.i- for Defence, fho Hon. ,T. All.;:, read a telegram of congratulation , from the .v.iyor ~( dlokitikn. "I li&vo' not many words to say," he fia id. "1 am glad to see tlie wounded ice.n beck ang,u. Would tlnit you could, havocome back without your wounds. I am ( , W e voi; witih tiiat yon were, rij of your wounds ami hack again in the treneheH. .1 know how the parents and ne\t of feel in weh inning you back. >;,>vy Zcalain! join.; in this welcome; she is grateful t(, tlie. captain and crew of the lochra. r.s uoi| lu to the jiur-c. who* bi-oiignt yon bad; in safety. (.aptain Neville's cheery manner must he,, ? done you all good. ] hope thos« that have '' come hack «•;;! sefl> dovr.. Seme, may havt ( be opportunity u> again country, ,in-j ;bjs tmio I hope they wiljv serve witiu.it wounds. I wish vou alt a good time, and can fully understand* your parent-- gnitilic-ation in having you home again."

Sir Josoim Ward was received with a tremendous burst of applause, which contained for some time. '• Your Worship the .Mayor, your Excellency the • fiovemor, ladies ami gentlemen, and soldier, of the King," he said, 'T do v/dnt, from the depths of my heart, to e::tena a warm, welcome to the men who hav« returned to Xew Zealand to-day. The one feeling swaying the dominion from endto end is of profound pride in the work her men have done. This is the most gvcrio»s epoch in tne history of Xew Zealand. The representative of ' the King, the head of the Oovclament. Ministers of the Crown, mcnAcis of Parliament, the Mayor and citizens have assembled to pay a tribute to tl-o soldier,' work-. What 'has occurred will never bo cffaccTi in our history. Tho deeds performed at Galllpoli.ln my oph> ion, stand unrivalled in tlie liisl-oiv of the. war—(applause)—in any country in the world. 'lt is a supreme joy and satisfaction that Xew Zealand feels in wolcoming those Xew Zealandcr* who have fought and returned. We rcpret that some of their comrades have fallen, v ' but we feel that these men arc, not only' a credit to New Zealand, but also to themselves. They will leave their individual mark for future youtlrt to sec, by reference to them, the grand way in which they discharged their duty, and added to the. traditions of their forefathers. Wu recognise that blood Jfas been spilt, but it has not been spilt in rain. We hnvo ,put our hands to the -plough, and will never desist till freedom and liberty are obtained. I, too, want to pay a tribute to the nurses. Eighty wounded men wero carried on to the Wilochra, but only fifteen wera carried ashore. The energy of the nurses and the physique of the New Zcalanders have enabled them to work suesuccessfully on these magnificent specimens of the human race. I hope that the men on their return will Ifind their dear ones alive and well to welcolme them, and that the wounded will 5» soon restored to lieatth. I wish them long and happy lives. Their great work on behalf of the Empire will cveT he remembered." (Cheers and applause). Three resounding cheers were given for the soldiers, at the call of the Mayoi\ and the men fchemsolves gave three cheers for the Australians.