Tahitian Contingent

"Monty"-Father Of The

From Our Own Correspondent Papeete, June 6.

IN the days to come, those veterans of Australia, New Zealand, India and of every outpost of Empire who, beside the soldiers of Britain, fought that amaz ing campaign which turned the tide of war, and who wear on their shoulders the insignia of Montgomery’s Immortals, will form a comradeship of glory. And of that fellowship will be the soldiers of Tahiti.

On May 17, 49 of our Tahitian soldiers arrived at Papeete from the war area of Africa. Most of them wore Eighth Army insignia; many of them decorations for valour.

They tell of General Montgomery’s great kindness —how he kept them about him; how he constantly watched over their comfort and welfare, and after each battle praised their valour. The General, they say, was their “Metua” (father) as well as their honoured commander, and on the great day that the King of Eng land came to visit the Eighth Army, General Montgomery presented his Tahi tians, and the King took the hand of each of them and thanked him for his part in the great victory.

Australia, our Tahitians bear witness, also opened her heart to them in fullest measure.

The reception that was given the re turning contingent at Papeete was car ried out in “due and ancient form.” The veterans were received with full military honours by His Excellency, the Acting- Governor, Monsieur Louis Fournier.

From the landing place they were escorted to the church at Paofai, where a solemn service of thanksgiving was cele brated by the Rev. Charles Vernier, Pre siding Pastor of the Protestant Church in French Oceania. He spoke eloquently in the Tahitian language.

Every expression of honour and grati tude has been offered to these gallant soldiers of Tahiti by the dignitaries of the Colony, by their comrades in arms and by the population.