NEW ZEALAND AND' JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1916, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND AND' JAPAN.

A NOVEL PRESENTATION, COOn WISHES FROM JAPANESE NAVY. (By Malcolm Ross). Northern France, July 10. When shortly after the commencement of the war the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, already embarked, was awaiting a, suitable escort to convoy it on its great trek across thousands of miles of sea, there suddenly appeared in Wellington Harbor one fine morning two great ships of war, and, to the astonishment of everybody, one was flying the flag of the Rising Sun. Those who were privileged to witness them will never forget the stirring scenes of the next few days, but more especially of the entertainment to the Japanese sailors in the Town Hall, when, to the pealing of tine great organ, the little men from Japan sang so stirringly their National Anthem, and with their shouts of "Banzai!'' for t'he British made the roof ring. There are others—many of them, alas! now sleeping on the ilex-clad hills of Galipoli, and others whoso graves are green or brown in France—who were eye-witneses of a memorable incident off Cocos Island, when the Sydney sent the Emden to her doom. Those who. saw often tell of the Sydney's dash from the lines of the great armada, and of the eagerness of the Hmki (Captain Hiroharu Kato), of the Imperial Japanese Navy, to join in the pursuit. But at that time there were other German ships about, and the ?buki could not be spared from the line. That memorable voyage from Nsw Zealand and Australia to Egypt was safely and satisfactorily accomplished, thanks to the British and the Japanese convoy, and at the end of it a happy thought prompted the New Zealanders to send as a memento of the occasion to the Japanese ship a very handsome model of a Maori war canoe. General Godley, in command of one of the Anzac corps, (has now received from Captain Kato Jin acknowledgment of the gift. The Japanese captain, in an interesting letter, expresses the deepest aprpeciation and gratification of himself and his officers for fclio presentation. He adds: — "Looking back upon our threo strenuous days in New Zealand we realise what a deep and permanent impression the invariable kindness which we received, and the thorough mutual understanding which prevailed, made upon us.

'•Much more was this the eiise ■luring our journey of about SSOO miles in company with your Excellency, and the grand spectacle of the convoy convoying your Excellency's troops, still lives in our imagination with the vividness of yesterday. '•Such a strong feeling of conirr-.de-ship will, we feel assured, not remain confined to ourselves, but, spreading itself among i/he people of our two countries, will serve to .strengthen the allianco existing between the two nations, and to contribute to. the final successful issue of this great war. "That your goodness of heart should have prompted you to send us this splendid gift in token of the appreciation of our services is more than we have a right to expect. Bather would it appear that the hand of Divine Providence is to lie seen in the safe conduct of the voyage, and in the .splendid victory over the Eniden by om allied 'comrades in the Sydney, mid though we welcome your generous appreciation with all our hearts we' feel it is undeserved. "Your Excellency may he assured that the magnificent gift from yourself and your comrades in arms will ever he treasured in our country, serving to us, and those that come after us, as a constant reminder of the Allied operations with Great Britain in this great-war, in which it was the good fortune of the Ibuki to have a part. "Accept, your Excellency, for yourself and your troops, our earnest hopes that the good fortune which attended you on your°journey from your homes to Egypt ivill remain with you and help you to dp your part in carrying through this war'to a victorious issue."