BACK FROM THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1918, Page 8

BACK FROM THE WAR.

TARAXAKI SOLDIERS RETURX. About 20 Taranaki soldiers who have returned from active service arrived home by the mail train last night. Arrangements were made by the local authorities ai Xi-w Plymouth to give the men a litt-jijjl reception, an deverything passed oil' satisfactorily. The military authorities ,u»nt hill particulars of the mer. who were to be expected, stating tlie men who were hospital cases, so that there; would be no hitch i n the reception of the men on arrival. The* walking cases wore accommodated in a carriage at the front of the train and the ambulance carriage provided for the three cot cases (one each for Pahnerston North. Wanganui, and Xew Plymouth) wi's, us usual, at the rear of the mail van. The Dupty-Mayor (Mr. W. A. Collis), the deputy-chairman of th« Patriotlo Committee (Mr. J. W. Chaney), and members of the Patriotic Committee, the Bed Cross Society, and the Returned Soldiers' Association were present at the station to receive the men. There was also a good gathering of the general public, amongst them being the employees of the Sash and Door Factory, vvlio went especially to welsomo SerI geant Foote, who an c\\ employee of the company. The Citizens' Band was present, and piaycd several selections. As the train steamed into the platform cheers were given, and the band played "Home. Sweet Home." Mr. Collis, who briefly addressed the me;', apologised for the abj of the Mayor, who had to fulfil a« t ~-*&at prior engagement. Tlie speaker said they had come there as citizens to give the' men ft Uenrty welcome home after havincr served their King and country. It was well known that it was impossible to see and suitably recognise all I lie deeds of bravery performed on the battlefield, Some, however, were seen and recognised, and among them had been those of Sergeant Foote, who had Ven awarded the D.CM. nnd a bar to the medal. He then called for cheers for the '"boys," which were heartily given. Amongst the returned men there was only cue cot case—that of Private Fisher, who enlisted and went from Hawera. Tie and Sergeant J. Spence and Private A. Kae were taken to the hospital in the motor ambulance. The other men who returned to Xew Plymouth were:—Sergeant S. C. Foote, D.C.M. and bar, Private A. Hay, Sapper A. X. Starring, and Rifleman D. Wells (Mangorei). The men who returned to other districts 'by the same train were:—Privates 11. Coilingwood (Stratford), 11. WOlentworth (Urenui), A. F. Jones and 0. B Bernsten (Waitara), A. E. Quinn (Riveriea), W. Thompson and LanceCorpoTal W. IT. Theobald (Hawera), Sergeant F. P. Silby. (Awatuna), and Rifleman W. Moss (Xgaerc). WETjOOME AT INGLEWOOD. At Inglewood a hearty welcome was accorded to A. E. Raynor (Inglewood) and Trooper JI. W. Patterson (Tarata). There was a large crowd present at the railway station, including a nuiwber of boy scouts, and an appropriate address was given by the Mayor. 'Sergeant-Major Lyman, of Palmcrston Xorth, was in charge of the men. ARRIVING TO-NIGHT. The following returned mcji wjll arrive by mail train to-night from Auckland:— For Xew Plymouth.—Privates Jardine, Duffey. M'Hride, Maee, Messenger, Perry, Roger, Rohinson. For Hawera.—Sergeant Corkill, Privates Buigent, Jonnneaux, Larson,Shaw, Were. Wasley, Zinsli. For Stratford.—Privates Crawer, Ireland. M'Donald, Pctrie, Davies. For Te Wera.—Private Finnerty. For Inglewood.—Privates Henderson and SimpsonFor Waitara.—Privates Furze, Neustroski, and Morgan. For Inaha. —Private Jones. For MSnaia—Private Lynsky. For Auroa. —Private Robertson.