THIRD ECHELON

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21194, 17 August 1940, Page 8

THIRD ECHELON

LORD GALWAY SPEAKS NOTE OF COURAGE STRUCK JOHN BULL NOT BEATEN (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday A parade of men of the Thir£ Echelon and a march through the city drew an immense crowd into Wellington this morning. Overhead conditions at first were fine, but a fresh southerly was blowing and during the speeches brought up a rain squall which continued throughout the march. Representing both Houses of the Legislature, State departments, and the Justiciary, as well as High Commissioners, Trade Commissioners and many prominent people gathered in the enclosure at Parliament House. The Governor-General, Lord Galway was accompianied by Lady Galway and Captain Lord Dormer A.D.C. Speeches in addition to that of Lord Galway were made toy the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, the Mayor, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, the Hon. A. Hamilton leader of the opposition, Mr B. Jacobs, Dominion vice-presi-dent of the Returned Soldiers Association. Prayer was offered by Archdeacon Bullock, Vicar-General of the Wellington Diocese, and all joined in the Lord’s Prayer. Second Round Beginning: Addressing the parade, Lord Galway said the first round was over, and we must admit the Germans had gained many points. France had collapsed and we must admit this had caused us serious inconvenience, but Britain had not been knocked out. John Bull, that dour and experienced old fighter, had taken severe punishment but had come up full of fight.

We had only just begun now. The seconds were out of the ring, the second round was about to begin. The enemy might gain some points, for instance in Somaliland, where the French collapse involved us in considerable difficulty; but it was a country which had no strategic value, and Britain was not going to dissipate and waste her strength except on vital points. Italy might claim she had acquired a harbour which might be useful for her cruisers, but the harbour was useless unless you could get ships to it, and he sincerely hoped that on the Red Sea and eastward of that no Italian ship would be seen sailing on those harbours. “On land we shall once more meet the Italians, formerly our allies, now our opponents,” said His Excellency, “and I have little doubt that if they come across the New Zealanders they ■will reproduce some of their Caperetto form and show how fast they can leave the field of battle.” Lord Galway went on to refer to the terrific air contest now raging over the Channel and the part New j Zealand was playing. Should the : Germans ever set foot on the shores of Britain they would receive such a welcome as they would never have anticipated, believing as they did the stories of their leaders. They could not win by lies over the air. The battle would be won by stout hearts and strong blows, and we would win through in the end. because we had right on our side. “We are In this contest 100 per cent, and we are not going to give in until the contest is won by our side,” Lord Galway concluded. Glorious Traditions Mr Fraser congratulated officers and men on the enthusiastic and thorough way they had undergone their training. “We know that you will acquit yourselves with a distinction and honour fully in keeping with the great and glorious traditions of the New Zealand Forces on land and sea and in the air,” he said. Mr Hamilton said the parade would inspire the people to still greater effort. The gathering gave the lie direct to Nazi claims that the youth of today in democratic countries was no match for the youth of yesterday.

MADE SOLDIERS LAUGH MR COATES IN AUCKLAND (By Telegraph.—rress Association) AUCKLAND, Saturday Auckland was filled with martial music and spontaneous cheering today when the battalions of the Third Echelon paraded at the Domain and later marched through the city for luncheon on the waterfront. Bronzed and physically fit, the soldiers impressed all as worthy comrades of those already on service. Speakers at the Domain were Colonel N. McD. Weir, Officer Commanding Northern Command, the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Mr Nash said that since he last addressed soldiers in the Domain, one by one those nations united with Britain had been submerged and Britain now stood alone, undaunted and full of courage. The New Zealand soldiers would defend the national freedom. Mr Coates spoke as a soldier to soldiers, and in a fighting speech contrived to set them all laughing.