ANZAC DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1918, Page 4

ANZAC DAY.

SPEECHES BY PREMIER-AND MINISTER OF FINANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At a gathering at tin: Commercial Travellers' Clul), tlie Prime Minister, after paying a tribute io tlie Anzac heroes and tlie part New Zealand had taken in the war, referred to the development of the war. lie said that the British Empire and Allies had to face two chief dangers at the present time. One was the submarine. He believed the effects of the submarine attach', were decreasing, and that in time tlie submarine would i.e relegated to the same category of inehV'tiveuess as the Zeppelin. The other danger was the tremendous attack made by the German armies on the West front. The first stage of that attack had been passed, but nobody must imagine thatj the German offensive was at an end. The danger was'not over by a very long wiiy. The Germans wanted to smash the British forces before tlie American reinforcements could take an effective pare in the campaign, but he did not believe for a moment they would succeed. He believed the British were going to stop the German advance, and that the enemy .would be unable to reach the Channel ports. .Sacrifices would have to be made by all the peoples of the British Empire, in order to tide over the period of danger, but Britons all over the world were prepared to stand firm and see the thing through. Sir Joseph Ward said that the men whe had died at Gallipoli, while fighting under terrible conditions and against great odds, for the cause of human freedom, would never be forgotten. Their names were recorded on the hearts of the nation. There had been criticism of the inception and conduct of the Gallipoli campaign. He believed it was a fact that if tiiose responsible for the effort had arranged for sufficient forces to be available at the right time the peninsula would have been won, and the war would by this time have ended. Somebody had blundered, but let it never bo imagined that the men who died on Gallipoli had died in vain. They had fought a good fight, and maintained, unstained, the very highest traditions of their nation. Sir Joseph Ward added that the New Zealanders Were commemorating the third anniversary of Anzac Day with the firm determination that whatever the further efforts might be, the sacrifices that had already been made should not bo in vain. -He did not believe that Britain or her allies would end the war until a full victory had been assured —until they had turned the tide back, entered German territory, and carried the flag of freedom right to Berlin. MESSAGE FROM GENERAL BIRDWOOD. Wellington, Last Night. The Governor-General has received the following telegram from General Birdwood: "On tliis third anniversary of Anzac Day I desire to convey the greetings of the members of the Australian Imperial Force to the people of New Zealand, and to assure them that the New Zealand and Australian troops are continuing to uphold the great traditions established on April 25, 1015. The many months during which the New Zealand and Australian troops fought literally shoulder to shoulder in the common cause can never be forgotten by cither. All who are fighting to-day realise that the safety and honor of their home and people are as much in their safe custody as they were three years ago, and in this trust they will not fail." v Napier, Last Night. Anzac Day was celebrated by a united non-episcopal service in the morning, and a gathering in the Municipal Theatre in the afternoon. A procession ef returned soldiers and local military forces marched through the streets, and patriotic inmenioriam speeches were delivered in the theatre by the Mayor, the member for the district, and Dr. Boxer, president of the R.S.A. Invercargill, Last Night. Anzac Day was celebrated in fine weather, a close holiday being observed. There were services in all the churches in the morning, which were well attended. There was a military parade and speeches in the open in the afternoon, and a large patriotic meeting in the theatre, at night. The public entered sympathetically into the purpose of the day, the observance of which was in every way satisfactory. At Wanganui, Anzac Day was celebrated by religious services and a military demonstration.