PRESS DELEGATES

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1918, Page 8

PRESS DELEGATES

fit! VISIT TO EUROPE.

BRITAIN'S TREMENDOUS WAR

WORK.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. * The following letter has been received from Sir. Fenwick regarding the press delegates' visit to Europe:— The editors and proprietors of Dominion newspapers who left Auckland on June 15 last on a visit to the United Kingdom and France, as guests of the Imperial Government, returned by the Makura to-day (December 1).

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS-

They speak of the tour as having been 'most deeply interesting from every point of view, and are satisfied that the Ministry of Information, in bringing together the leading journalists from all the Overseas Dominions, in order that they might judge for themselves of Britain's stupendous war work, conceived a wise and statesmanlike project. The tour has unquestionably given the visitors an insight into matters of Imperial import that could not have been otherwise obtained, and has brought them into personal touch <vith the leading statesmen of the Empire and other prominent public men, with whom many questions of great importance to the nation's welfare have been discussed.

FACILITIES FOR INSPECTING WAR WORK.

Every facility was given them to inspect extensive munitions factories in England and Scotland, vast shipbuilding yards on the Clyde, the New Zealand military hospitals and training camps, and the widespread ramifications of the Army work, and a memorable visit to France placed them in direct touch with the New Zealand forces in the field.

VISIT TO THE FLEET.

In the earlier days of the tour a visit was made to the Grand Fleet, under the guidance of .specially-appointed naval officers. A steamer conveyed the visitors to the Fleet in the Firth of Forth, and great lines of battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and the other component parts of the Navy were passed under review.

ON BOARD THE NEW ZEALAND.

The New Zealand section of the delegation was taken on board the battlecruiser New Zealand, presented to the Empire by the Dominion, and its members cordially received by the comiiiander and his principal officers. After an inspection of the great warship, in the course of which the visitors noted with pride that the part she took in the Jutland fight was inscribed in a prominent position, together with her connection with the Dogger Bank incident, a luncheon followed, at which the health of the visitors was proposed by the commander and suitably responded to. The proceedings were characterised by great cordiality and 1 enthusiasm, and success to the ship and her commander having been drunk, a most interesting visit elased with mutual good wishes and farewells.

Many of the famous battleships of the Navy were passed, their familiar names evoking much internet, and a profound impression was left on the mind 9 6f visitors.

WAR WORK IN ENGLAND AND

SCOTLAND.

In referring to the war work in EngJand and Scotland, members of the delegation say their visits to the Clyde shipbuilding yards and to the great munitions factories were most impressive. In the former, warships of all types and vessels for the mercantile marine were in process of construction, and the largest battleship ever constructed in the world had just been finished- TTie yards were scenes of wonderful activity, and the sharp fusilade of the pneumatic riveters was at times deafening. A few miles from Glasgow two great munitions factories were visited. One of these was largely devoted to the manufacture of marine engines and other work of a heavy kind. It is a vast concern, employing 10.000 hands, and is typical of tho other great factories employed on war work through sat the kingdom.

PROJECTILE WORKS.

The National Projejtilo Company 5 works, which employ 4000 hands,. 2000 of whom pro girls, were next visited. Here nothing but sllells were made. The girls were of a fine type, earnest, hardworking, reliable, and thoroughly at home with their machines- They were turnine ont. enormous numbers of shells. They were employed in one of the principal shell factories in Britain, and, under it* capable and energetic management. it had for three years been supplying the Army with a goodly part of one o? its mo?t necessary munitions and requirements.

STATE CONTROL OF LIQUOR. On its return journey, the delegation passed through Carlisle, where a Liquor Control Board has on hand an interestin*; experiment in State control of : the liquor trade. It has purchased several hotels, and those are being run under competent management- With the elimination of private profit, the sale of drink has been lnreely reduced, Tho hotels are comfortably and quietly attraclive. and it is claimed that, so. far, a considerable measure of success,has. resulted from tho experiment.

MARKETS AMD G'UN REPAIRS.

Xear Manchester the delegates visited another lar?e munitions works, where in.Oftft hands ivore employed. A great diversity of work was liein? out. includins magnetos, and *it is bonod that the manufacture of (.bis item of electrical enuipmeni. will not asain drift away from England as it liad done before the

war . A feature of the work earned on was the restoration of lii? ";ins sent, over from the battlefield* nfter thev liad liecome unfit for fiirthc use until re-bored and repaired. On the principle that everything bad to <rive place lo tho- winning of the war. this nrreat establishment was an example of hundreds of 'businesses which bad been taken over by the 'Rovermnent and converted into munitions factories, to the absolute dislocation of the old and profitable industrial trade*

HOSPITALS. CAMPS, AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Visits that wore paid lo the New Zealand military hospitals at Walton-on-Tliames and Broclcenhurst, to tlie great training camps of Codford and Sling, on Salisbury Plain, and to the special hospitals and educational centres at Hornchurch, S-idcup, and Roehampton, disclosed the great care that is being taken of the New 'Zealand iroops and the strong and intelligent efforts that are being made to equip the men with vocations that will enable them to take their places in civil life.

Technical education of many kinds, and of a most valuable character, is being steadily given, and quite surprising are the results that have been attained, especially in the eases of -men who liavo lost limbs or been maimed in other ways.

CONFERENCES WITH MINISTERS AND PUBLIC MEN.

The delegates had many opportunities of discussing important matters with members of the Government and other well-known public men, and they acquired much knowledge through their personal contact with the leadjng men of the Kingdom that would not otherwise have been readily obtainable.

HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS.

They also had many meetings with men at the head of such organisations as the y.M.C.A„ New Zealand War Contingent Association, Red Cross, and Salvation Army, and they are satisfied that very fine work ii£vs been, and is being, done by these active associations. It cannot be questioned that the Dominion's troops benefited enormously by the untiring humanitarian efforts of these bodies.

at the battle front.

Members of the delegations describe their visit to France and the battle-front as one of intense intyest. They toured long distances and covered ground which wiH for all time be famous as the scenes of great battles.

RUINED TOWS AND VILLAGES.

They visited, or passed through, nuni'bers of ruinci town 3 and villages in France and f ...I'-ilers, and saw, from several vantage points, active, hostilities proceeding 1 hetween the Allies and the enemy, and were on a battlefield where, but a few hours previously, the Germans had been driven from their trenches and duff-onts by the New Zealand troops, and where gruesome evidence of carnage still lay around, with fighting still proceeding not many hundred yards away. MESSAGES FROM NEW ZEALAND TROOPS.

Many acquaintances among the New Zealand troops were met and messages given for relations and friends in the Dominions.

MEETING DISTINGUISHED MEN.

In the course of their tour of the they had the pleasure of meeting Sir Douglas ffaig and Genesis Rnssell, Lawrence, and florae, all of whom spoke in the highest terms of the New Zealand troops. They also me* President Poincaire and M. Clemencea", each of whom spoke on the war and the inflexible resolve of Franco that there should be no peace until Germany had been absolutely beaten and compelled to accept the Allies' terms.

WOMEN'S GREAT WAR WORK.

In even a circumscribed account of their tour the delegates say room must be found for reference to the wholehearted manner in which the women have taken their share in Britain's war work. It has been an inspiration to the other sex, nor can any one class of the community claim special credit in re&pect to this, whether it be in taxing the Red Cross or special hospital work taken up by the leisured classes, or the humbler labor workers ,on the land, or the cheerful performance of unusual duties by the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, or by the workers in ammunition factories, or in a score of other avenues in industrial life, the splendid work of the women is beyond all praise. Without thi9 assistance it cannot be disputed that the British army sent to France and other war places would not only have been seriously restricted in numbers, but that it would have been impossible to keep it adequately supplied with munitions and other necessary equipment. The work of the women of the nation will stand for all time as an outstanding feature, a record of the finest services ever rendered to a country in time of trial and peril, such as national life had never previously had to meet.

SOCIAL SIDE OF VISIT.

On the social side of the delegates' visit, the first in point of interest anil honor must bo placed their presentation to the King and Queen and Princess Mary at Windsor Castle. There was an entire absence of restraint at this pleasant meeting, and their Majesties conversed freely with members of the delegation, and took gr#at interest in the questions discussed. Afternoon tea in the castle brought to a close a very pleasant and interesting hour or two spent there. There were many public luncheons and dinners at which important questions oi the day were . discussed by hosts and visitors alike. Not the least' interesting of these were dinners given by the Lord Provosts and City Councillors of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, and Dublin respectively, and dinners or luncheons by various public bodies in Liverpool, j Manchester", Bristol, Bath, Carlisle, and other places. j UP IN THE AIR. 1 Among these was a large luncheon given., by the Handley Page:. Company \after a visit to their great aerodrome a few miles, out of London, on which occasion tb E> . delegates made ascents to a .considerable height in eome of the

splendid aeroplanes owned by tlie company.

IRISH AFFAIRS. !

The visit to Ireland, too, was an occasion of much interest. Lnncheonis, dinners, and meetings with public men and Sinn Feiners took place at Dublin and Belfast, at which speeches and eonversatipns OH" Irish topics were the featurai. N

THE FAREWELL FEAST.

The last official function was the fareluncheon given by Lord Beaverbrook, at which he made an impressive and telling speech, responded to on behalf of tlie Xew Zealand delegation by its chairman, who thanked the Minister and his official siafl for all the courtesy, kindness, and attention the delegates had received at their hands, and made special acknowledgment of the interesting and valuable farewell speech which had been addressed to them.

The visit of the delegation was brought to a close on October 4, on which date they left for Liverpool and embarked 011 the fith on an Atlantic liner for New York, en rpute for Vancouver, whence they sailed by the Makura.