SAFE IN BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1939, Page 7

SAFE IN BRITAIN

THE FIRST CANADIAN CONTINGENT TROOPS TRAVEL IN LUXURY LINERS. SECRET EMBARKATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. OTTAWA, December 19. Celebrations were held throughout Canada when, it was learnt that the first contingent of the Canadian troops had arrived in Britain. With the lifting of the veil of secrecy the newspapers were filled with accounts of the assembly and departure of the troops, both triumphs of organisation. Trains carrying 400 to 600 men operated over a period of days. All were timed to arrive at Halifax at two-hour intervals over three days. The sailing was kept the closest secret. There were no leave-takings at the waterside. Indeed, Halifax saw nothing of the men. The Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, and members of Cabinet stood on the dock alone on the chill grey Sunday morning as the long line of ships slipped out to sea. Never before have troops travelled in such elegant surroundings. Several of the transports were famous luxury liners. The Hon. John Buchan, son of the Governor-General, Lord Tweedsmuir, is a member of the contingent. The accompanying correspondents testify that the Navy has a sense of humour. Concerning the only incident en route, when a transport strayed in a heavy fog, the correspondents record that a scouting destroyer signalled, “Read Luke xv. 6.”

The verse indicated reads: — "And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them. Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”

•<O CANADA” SURPRISE SPRUNG ON BRITISH PORT. TRANSPORTS ENTER THROUGH THE MISTS. LONDON, December 19. The Canadian active service force, commanded by Major-Gen-eral A. G. L. McNaughton, is already encamped somewhere in England for final training. No secret in the whole war was better kept than the embarkation of this large and magnificently equipped force from every province of Canada. Citizens at the disembarkation port were amazed to see a procession of transports with a strong naval escort entering the harbour through the mists of a winter day. So well was the secret kept that they were even more deeply mystified as the ships slowly approached the shore and they heard bands playing and a vast chorus singing “O Canada.” During a brief ceremony at the quayside, which was thronged with cheering crowds, the general officer commanding the area read a telegram of welcome from the King which concluded: “The British Army will be proud to have as comrades in arms the successors of those from Canada in the last war who fought with a heroism never forgotten.” The Dominions Secretary. Mr Eden, welcomed the force on behalf of the Government.

"Ali, how did master get on at the shoot today?"? "He shot wonderfully. Sahib, but Allah's blessing was on the animals.’'