THREE VICTORY MESSAGES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 307, 11 May 1945, Page 3

THREE VICTORY MESSAGES

Message broadcast at 7 .a.m., May 3, 1945: HE news through to-day is the best that we have received since the war broke out in September, 1939, FieldMarshal Alexander’s message records the surrender of all the German fotces in Northern Italy and in several provinces of Austria. The people of New Zéaland will receive the news of the capitulation with joy and thanksgiving. It means that New Zealand’s share in the war in Italy has been brought to a brilliantly successful conclusion. The anxiety that has filled our hearts in the past few weeks as our men have been engaged in the bitter final struggle may now be banished. We thank God and rejoice that our men have completed their part of the task against Germany, and we hope that V Day with final victory in Europe. is close at hand, There is other work ahead until Japan also is defeated. In this moment of national rejoicing we remember the sacrifices that have been made to make it possible to have this day of victory. Thousands!of our men have given their lives, many have been grievously wounded, others still overseas and also at home have rendered services that have built up the good name of New Zealand throughout the world. We owe them all a debt that can never be. repaid. ‘ In the area surrendered are many prisoners of war camps in which New Zealanders have been detained, and we are looking eagerly forward to receiving the news of the: liberation of large numbers of our men. We thank Britain; we thank the United States; we thank Russia; we thank the other members of the British Commonwealth and all the United Nations. We pray God that the deliberations at San Francisco may result in a united world and our joy and gladness and the thanksgiving associated with victory the sorrow of the relatives of those who will never return and to them our heartfelt sympathy goes out this day.

: Office of the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, ; Wellington. | HAVE lived in New Zealand as representative of the United Kingdom Government since shortly before "the German attack on Poland precipitated the. world conflagration which is now ending in Europe and will, we hope and ptay, be shortly ended in the Pacific also, Living here all through these years, I have shared New Zealand’s dangers and anxieties, her setbacks and victories, and now the hour of final triumph in Europe. I saw the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force set sail for the Middle East to win a glorious name for itself under the gallant leadership of General Freyberg; I followed the news of all the desert fighting, the retreats in Greece, Crete and North Africa, and then the victorious advance from Alamein to Tunis, across the Mediterranean and up the whole length of the Italian peninsula, until now, as part of the Allied Armies under Field Marshal Alexander, they have brought the campaign in Italy to a triumphant close. J remember also the work of the New Zealand Division in the Pacific. I recall the gallant deeds of the New Zealand Navy, especially in the Battle of the River Plate, and of the R.N.Z.A.F, in all parts of the world. My mind goes back to the dark days of 1940 and 1941, when the nations of the British Commonwealth ‘stood alone against all the might of the Se SS OR FO ee A ee

American Legation, Wellington. [N commemorating the overthrow of Nazi Germany, we should be restrained in our joy of victory and must be gravely mindful that not only will the war against Japan demand its toll of sacrifice and sorrow and require the unremitting efforts of the armed and civilian forces of all of the nations en« g@ed in the crusade against totalitarianism, but that, even when Japan, is humbled, there will §&till remain the arduous task of ‘welding the post-war world into an effective custodian of the peace. It is a tragically sobering thought that men must still die in the Pacific before complete victory can be achieved. Let this time therefore be one of dedication, by everyone in the Armed Forces, in the mills and factories, in the transport services, and in the councils of the free dom-loving nations, to the hard work and generous, unrelaxing co-operation which are necessary to win the final victory; and to build a future of peace and happiness for the generations to coma Full Speed Ahead!

Axis Powersg and to the grim months in 1942, when the danger of attack by the Japanese on New Zealand itself was acute. All through these years I have watched the efforts and sacrifices made by the people of the Dominion and my heart has gone out in sympathy to all those who have lost their dear ones fighting in the common cause, Through all these experiences I have been inspired by the brave and steadfast spirit with which every new vicissitude and every new task has been faced. Now we can devote the whole of our war effort to the still arduous work of liberating the Pacific and the lands which border it from the Japanese invader. As soon as that work is accomplished, we shall be free to turn all our thoughts to the future and to devote the whole of our energies to the task of building a happier and better world for the generations to come. In that task I am confident.that New Zealand will be in the forefront of the nations.as she has been in the war. "