ANZAC DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1917, Page 6

ANZAC DAY.

COMMEMORATION IN NEW PLYMOUTH. - IMPRESSIVE SERVICE AT CORQNA TION HALL. There was a very large attendance a; the Coronation Hall yesterday after noon, when a civic religious gathering was held in commemoration of the hero ism of the New Zealand and other troopi in effecting a landing on Gallipoli. Tin gathering wa? a most impressive one, A feature of the service was the presence of a number of returned Anzacs including those at the hospital, who had been motored down by the Mayor, arn, were in charge of a nurse. Reference made to them by the speakers was greeted with, applause. THE PROCESSIO^y— Prior to the ceremony a procession was formed in front of the Soldiers' Club, and marched to the Coronation Kail. Captain Ryder was marshal. The Citizens' Band, under Bandmaster McLeod, and with Lieut. Lister as drummajor, headed the procession, playing a spirited march. Immediately followed a number of returned soldiers, including Anzacs, the conspicuous limp in some of the men bearing mute testimony to the struggle they had passed through. They were in charge of Sergeant W. P. Okey, and two of their number, Rifleman Hooker and Trooper Jordan, proudly carried the "Anzac" flag. Then followed some thirty Taranaki under Captain Black, the. territorials und'er Lieutenant Crutch and Whitcombe, High School Cadets under Lieut. Wynyard, No. 90 Cadets under Lieut. Campbell, and the Boy Scouts under Major Sandford ami Scoutmaster Allen, AT THE CORONATION HALE,. There was a large assemblage at the hall. The committee had provided seating accommodation for 1000, but this proved inadequate, and a large number had to stand. A platform had been ar. ranged, decorated with the New Zealand flag and the Union' Jack,whilst the Anzac flag had a prominent position. The Mayor (Mr. C. 11. Burgess) prosided, and there were also on the platform: Lieut.-Col. Archdeacon Evans, Revs. F. G. Harvie (Church of England), W. A. Sinclair, H. L. Richards (Methodist), A. C. Seivwright (Baptist), Hitch (Presbyterian), Adjutant Hultquist (Salvation Army), Lient.-Col. Herman, Senior Chaplain AVellington District, Messrs H. J. Okey, M.P. for Taranaki, \V. J. Chaney (secretary) and J. Paton (treasurer) of the Patriotic Society. An apology was received for the absence of the Rev. E. Culliford, moderator of the Presbyterian Church, who was detained by a service at Eltham. THE SERVICE. The order of service was as follows: Hymn, "0 God, our help in ages past," announced by the Rev. Hitch (Presbyterian) ;Scripture reading, Psalms 124, Adjutant Hultquist ;.Prayor, with Lord's Prayer in unison, Rev. A. C» Seivwright; Hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light," Rer. H. h. Richards. ADDRESS BY ARCHDEACON EVANS. Archdeacon Evans gave a short but powerful address. They had met, he fiid, to commemorate great deeds, and he was thankful to soe there that afternoon some of those who had taken part in the famous landing. (Applause). They chould ever remember with deep affection those grand men who had laid down

their live?'to do these great deeds. The landing at Gallipoli would ever rauk fimong the glorious deeds performed by British Heroes, and those who took part in that historic action were worthy of all tlfe honor they could give them. If ■ these men were asked about their wonderful work, they would say: "We have only done our duty." (As one of the old Taranaki veterans had said, when replying to the toast •'of his health, "I don't know what all this praise is about. I only did my duty."). So would these brave boys say But what glorious deeds have been done for duty's sake! There is no more wonderful, no more beautiful thing, nothing morft necessary to national life than a deep sense of ■ duty. He hoped that the. children present would be deeply impressed with this. "Yon cannot," said the speaker, "distinguish between those who took part in the -operations at Gqllipoli." Our best New Zealand boys say "Thank God we were thought worthy to fight alongside the British and the Australians." Speaking to an Australian he Was told that the New Zealanders were the finest men in the world, and the. New, Zealanders eaid the same of the Australians and Bri- ; . tiah. English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh and Colonials, all were equally courageous and all equally to be praised. All were touched with heroic nature, and the spoaker gave three iljustrations of the extreme courage and heroism of the Bri.tiah and New Zealanders, showing their noble self-sacrifice. One English hoy was willing to give up his mattress tu a comrade whom he thought more badly , wounded; a Scottish 'boy, who had lost his leg, cried because he could not rejoin his regiment, aiid a New Zealander, who sat down until all the wounded! were attended to, and then drew attention to the fact that the calf of his leg had been shot off. They cannot help, said 'the speaker, being touched By such, deeds, which must be prompted by grand natures indeed. And where did our boys get their nature? Why, from their parents, of course, and wjiile they honored the heroic sons, they must give equal honor to the heroic parents. They had among them representatives of these grand old men, who helped to keep New Zealand for the New Zealanders, and there was the same spirit today that helped at the time of the Maori war. Nothing could excel the wonderful spirit manifested by New Zealani parents during this war. They have cheerfully resigned i their dear hoys, and allowed them to go into the great campaign Tor the freedom of the world One grand womant.down south, when the news of her son's' 1 death was brought to her, said: "I am thankful that, with life fine strong nature, he has gone to be a help in the other world to the weak and helpless there." A Taranaki father wrote after he had received news of his son's death: "We feel the loss of our boy very deeply, for he was truly d son to make glad the hearts of his parents, but we feel that God, in Hi* infinite wisdom and love, knows what is best, and maybe he has need «f our son's loving, manly spirit to csirry on his behests on the other side." Tlic' Bishop of Auckland, in ft sermon, had said: "I belieye the sacrifice of the parent is areater than'the sacrifice of the

60n," and the speaker felt sure thnt this was true. The boys had many of them sacrificed their lives, but those ' I bays were to their parents more valuable than life itself, and yet they willingly gave them leave to go out and light the battle for freedom. The parents had gone on with their daily tasks, withon,. repining, and without any outward token of breaking hearts. "God help and bless such great people.. The parents of New Zealand have given expression to that great sacrifice, "Who, because of his great love of htnnanity, spared His own son, that He might lay down His life for the world." While thanking God for our brave New Zealand boys, who had given all they could in the cause 5 of freedom and justice and religion, let them not'make the mistake'of thinking 8 that all these sacrifices were in vain. e They could not be. New Zealand's sojis '■ bled and died for the purity of womankind/and for the lives of li'ttfe children., '> The most wonderful cable ever sent 1 from any country was that which told * the news that America was about to ; e enter the war. It was: "America will ' " takq up the cross for humanity's

sake\m Good Friday"—100,000,000. frc people entering the war for the sake o humanity. When they thought of thosi ( who had left their sacred dust on tin , shores of Egypt, Gallipoli and France ! for the sake of humanity, the purity o , womankind, the successful lives and de ! velopment of little children, the integrity of nations, the benefit of justice. ar;l righteousness of the whole world, lei us thank God for the courageousness and ! cheerfulness with which they mads the supreme sacrifice. This was followed by "The Dead March in Saul," impressively rendered by the Citizens' Band; Hymn, "Russian National Anthem, announced by Adjutant Hultquist. REV. SINCLAIR'S ADDRESS. •The Rev. Sinclair said:— We, in these Southern lands, are a people without a past, without a history such as ancient nations possess. Our history is yet to be made—and we arc fast making it. There are great days in our Christian calendar—Christinas, Good Friday, Easter Day, and Whit-Sunday. There are great days in our national calendar, such as Trafalgar Day and Waterloo Day. Among tho historic days in tho calendar of the Commonwealth and the Dominion, April 25 will always stand ,out conspicuously. Anzac Day will always have an hollered place there. It will be—"A day in golden letters to be set Among tho high tides of the calendar." We are not met to-day to discuss the military strategy of the Dardanelles undertaking. In many respects', it was a costly blunder. It was the most disastrous campaign in British history. There were 100,000 casualties, another 100,000 were invalided home, and during the lastweeks of the occupation the average number of cases of sickness reached 8000. And yet perhaps it was not as groat a 'blunder as we imagine. An immense Turkish army was held there, and was thus prevented from attacking elsewhere, The campaign revealed unparalleled Jjravery on the part, of our men. An English paper said, "The whole thing was redeemed by the superb bravery of the colonial troops." We are assembled to-day to do honor to theso heroic men, who made that memorable landing on the bleak and hostile shores and the bullet-swept vidges of Gallipoli, in the face of an entrenched Turkish army. Tho deeds of that day and of that place are among the most glorious in all military history. The apparently impossible was accomplished in that landing. An inspired poet is needed to enshrine in an immortal epic the imperishable story of that historic venture.

"When can their glory fade? 0. the wild charge tlicy made! AH the world wonder'd."

We had heard much of recent years of physical and moral degeneracy of tlie British race. We were told that luxury and love of ease and* softness had robbed 113 of our stamina, and>'unfittcd us for the strenuous life. The daring deeds of that- day give the lie -to sucii theories and prove our young men to be worthy sons of noble,,sires. -They fought and died bravely and unselfishly. The Anzae spirit will through the coming years inspire us to .nobler and more-sac-rificial living. They laid down thoir lives for us. They willingly gave of their best. Ah

true life is red with the blood of sacrifice. Sacrifice dignifies life and redeems it from the. sordid, the mean, and the commonplace. It lifts it to the level of

the God-like. A" success worth having comes by this way of sacrifice. The title deeds of our civilisation, of our national privileges, "of our glorious freedom, of our ijoble heritage, of our priceless reli-

gion, have come to us stained with blood. At a great price we obtained our present heritage, and we retain it at tho same cost.

The German* wolf sprang into tht Belgian sheepfold to slay and to devour, and Britain, the good shepherd, hastens to the defence of tlie weak and helpless.. She has made the great sacrifice, and is literally laying down her life for the world's freedom. She might have stood aloof and have saved the expenditure of thousands of millions of pounds, a staggering hurden tyhich she will have to bear for the next century; and also hundreds of thousands of precious lives. But what shall it profit a nation if she gain

the whole world and lose her own soul? This sacrificial act will be Britain's salvation and will bring new life into this ancient Empire, and we look for lier to emerge from the conflict with a cleansed spirit, ennobled ideals, and more glorious destiny. The selfish nation must suffer ajjd in the end die. That is the verdict oT alj history, writ large so that all may read it. Love and sacrifice will make this God's world; selfishness and racial hatreds wilr make it a devil's world.

Our gallant young men at the call of country and duty went forth into this inferno of war prepared to lay down

their lives for home and loved ones. They came from homes of quiet peace. Nothing was further from their thoughts than war. They rallied to the flag when the Empire needed them. They went out into the dee.ps of life. Thev have seen life through the red mists of war, and life can never "be quite the same again. A more serious spirit will be imported into it.

But many of them will never come lack to us.

"Their graves are ■ scattered far and wide, . .

By mount and stream and sea."

There are lonely graves .-of our gallant Now Zealanders by the roadside and in the quiet farmyards of Flanders, in the daisy-clad hills of France, and on the bleak and steep hillsides of the historic and now sacred soil of Gallipoli. Some lie in the vast and wandering grave of tan. Little rough wooden crosses, h the names rudely carved, mark 'their last resting places. As in imagina-

Ji'on we stand to-day before these sacred graves, with, bowed head and ehasten&l heart, thinking, sorrowing, praying, we say, "1 hey loved us and gave themselves for us.-'! "Greater l° vo hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." We lav a love Wreath on their graves and leave them in the hands of eternal love. y There are parents who have made great sacrifices also. These must not be forgotten. Only those who'have been through the experience can know what it means to give a son for this terrible work. Many a mother has sont forth her son with a cheery "God bless you and keep you, m y boy," but there 'has been a big sob iii her heart. The sunshine has gone out of her life, a dark shadow has been cast on her day; but she lias not allowed the world-to' know it. She has put a cheerful courage on. To-day in many homes there are vacant chairs and aching hearts. Loved ones have gone out of our sight into the great beyond but they are not out of God's keeping. We 'leave our dead heroes with Him who made them and the Christ who redeemed them.

"Yours these rough Calvaries of hiah 1 endeavor, Flame of the trencb and foam of wintry seas. 'Nor pain, nor death, nor aught that is can sever You from the love that bears you on His knees." ' And what sacrifice are we making? We live in n. sheltered corner of the earth where we scarce know that a world storm is raging, threatening the devastation of Europe. We must not expect or attempt to escape the suffering. The man who does not serve his country at this time of crisis, and who does not willingly sacrifice for his conntry, does not deserve the protection of her laws. We who remain behind must show the same spirit as those who have, gone—the true Anzac spirit. Many have not yet realised how critical the position is and what tremendous issues are at stake.

The Russian soldiers supplied their own food to the refugees, only to see it sold by them, and the/ said,'"They are selling our sacrifice.." Those who" re-

main behind to make money out of the ivar, v and profit by their nation's misfortunes, are selling the sacrifice of these ,bravo men who have given their lives for us. If such there be among us they should hang their heads with shame.

Region and patriotism are two of the greatest forces operating among men. To-day they join hands in these •celebrations. Tlioy should remain forover joined. We need to become a more religious nation, a mere Christian people. General Sir William Robertson said recently, speaking of the Church, "Make the. people more religious." Admiral Beatty, now in command of the Navy, and who left his ships to the attack of the whole of the German High Seas Fleet, has said, -Until Britain ts stirred out of this .conditio* and a religious revival occurs, just so long will the war continue. When she looks to the future wt-ih humbler eyei and a prayer on her lips we can begih to count the days towards the end." Admiral Jellicoe's last act, before leaving to take command of mighty Navy, wits ■to attend a religious service. Ojiir great military naval -leaders recognise the place of religion in nationSl lifj. Let us give it its rightful place among us. "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach unto any people'." There are evils and injustices in our midst which should be resolutely dealt with if we wish to bring jn those better days and more specious times we all desire. That new age is coming. A new world shall be born out of these days of suffering. CONCLUSION OF SERVICE. Hymn, "For Those at Sea," announced by the Bev. 11. L. Richards: National Anthem, l)y Citizens' Bind. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. F. G. Ilarvie, and "The last Post" wfis sounded by Bugler Walker. Th* Baiul played the to ail the hymns. ' A collection *akeh at the door realise! the sum of £l4 7s 5Jd, which will be devoted to the Soldiers' Club. The arrangements at the ' hall were carried out by Mr. W. J. Chaivy, assisted by Messrs A. B Gib?on and Bay. The seats were kindly loaned 'by the Good Templar Hall and the Methoditt Sunday School. A squad of 30 boys from the Boys ! - High School were of great assistance to the committee at the Coronation Hall yesterday afternoon. The comnvttee desire to express appreciation at the able manner in which they helped to regulate details in the afternoon's programme. VETERANS ENTERTAINED.. RETURNED SOLDIERS AS HOrTS. In the evening, the veterans wer. l tl.o guests of the returned soldiers at the Soldiers' Club, a considerate act that was much appreciated by the men who lia<l fought Tnranaki's battles over fifty .years ago. The function took the nature of a tea, and the soldiers, assisted by the Mayoress' Ladies' Committee, had indeed efl'ected a transformation in the old council chamber, which had been decorated with flags and greenery, and had "been well provided with tables, which were tastefully decorated willi flowers, and lavishly spread witli various dainties. The veterans of tli.e sixties and tho.se of the present sreneraticn, to a total of about 70, sat beside each other, and exchanged reminiscences, after a blessing had been asked by Archdeacon Evans, whilst- their want 3 were attended to by a bevy of ladies, headed by the Mayoress. Excellent music was provided by an orchestra, comprising: Mrs Woods (piano), Messrs Lichtwark (violin), S. Collier (clarionet), Armstrong (cornet) and Bhmehett (bass), and greatly added to tha en joyment. Among the guests were Lftjnt.Colonels Archdeacon Evans and Herman, and Rev. W. A. Sinclair. Neat little cards painted by Miss Arden, as souvenirs, were handed round and signed. Sergeant W. C. D. Horsnell, who was wounded in Somme battle, in a very brief speech, proposed the health of the veterans, and called on the soldiers for throe hearty cheers, which were enthusiastically given. Captain Black, in returning thank-', stated that the vetc-rana considered it a great compliment to be entertained a? they were that evening, and he also proposed the health of the "Returned Soldiers," which was heartily honored. Archdeacon Evans, in a neat speech, referred to the debt of gratitude owed to the young lady who painted the souvenir cards, and also to the ladies under the Mayoress and Mrs Doekrill, who had assisted the nohliors with this civ lertainment. The ladies were awarded three hearty cheers. The Mayor, stated that lie was unfortunate in beinir.tot xoims t 0 a vfl . teran a l "* tno gld to oe a returned »ol-

dicr. Ho expressed his pleasure at the gathering, and the hope (hat it might he niaile an annual function. In returning thanks for the ladies. lie stated that it was a pleasure to the'ladies (o da what they could for the returned soldiers. He was greeted with chocrs at the conclusion, a similar honor beinc accorded Mrs Burgees. . Rev. W.. A. Sinclair stated that he also was too young for a veteran and too old for a returned soldier, but if the war lasted another year, which he trusted it would not, his son would he old enough and willing enough to go. He expressed pleasure at seeing so many of the old men there in such good spirits. All were pleased to sco so many returned men here. When he saw a mail in khaki he felt that he should shake that man by the hand or salute him, because he felt that, as he was unable to go fo the front, these men were standing between him and the enemy. Soldiering taught us to realise that we were one of many in a common cause. He stated that he would always be pleased to assist the veterans and the returned soldiers. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the, musicians. On the call of Sergeant W. P. Okey, who stated that the Club had been going for close on a year, cheers were given for the ladies who had provided afternoon tea all the year. THE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT. An adjournment was then made, to the social room where a couplo 1 of hours were spent in song and story. Licut.-Col. Evans presided. Songs were rendered by Misses E. and J. Bennett, Veterans Williams and Lister, Sergeant W. P. Olcey, and Mr. R. N. Renaud, recitation by Veteran Greenaway; musical monologue, Mr. B. Yinsen; picolo solo, Bugler J. 11. Walker; storiettes, Arch- 1 deacon Evans and Mr. J. R. Hill. About 9.30 p.m. the gathering dispersed, all having spent an enjoyable time. A vote of thanks was accorded Sergeant W. P. Okey, the secretary, who wa? largely responsible for the success of the gathering. WAITARA. Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., i '.o Ansae commemorative service at .. .• camp ground, Waitara, yesterday, eulogised the work done by the committee set up in North Taranalu and the King Country generally. The work done by theso patriotic committees stood as a memento of the generous nature of our people, and this appreciation of tlie noble work done by those who left, these shores on a crusade to battle for liberty and justice. He strongly urged the committees to push on tlie good work inaugurated at the start of the war, as lie. believed the hardest work was yet ahead, particularly when the war ended, and our ' men were returning to these shores in great numbers, many of them with shattered nerves and health gone. Mr. Jennings deprecated tho action of the in causing tho commemorative services for Anzae Day to be held on any tut the day tha heroic landing

war, made, and that was April 25th. This date he would like, to fixed a<; the national day for the Dominion, for our boys, residents under the Southern C'rcss, performed dutie.-, with other oversea troops, that stood out unparalleled •in the. annals of warfare. The casualtie?, from the day of the landing up till May 5, numbered just on 14,000 men, and included 002 officers. These figures did not inchide the losses of French soldiers ar.d sailors. Gallipnli cost us, before the evacuation, 20(Ulti0 men. Mr. Jennings, at the close of his address, rented a soldier's farewell to Anzae, tin last verse beihg:— Leaving them, leaving them, sleoping where they died; .Leaving them, leaving then\_. in their glory and their pride. Round them sea and barren land, ovci them the sky. - Oh, we're leaving them, so peacefully, where they lie. There were a number of items rendered by the school children of Waitara Public School, the Convent School and Waihi School, ami a choir rendered a number of hymns very acceptably. The rendering of the "Deid March in Saul" by the Waitifnr"Band was most impressive. Mr. Beckbessinger, Mayor, presided over a large assemblage.