THE TROOPS IN EGYPT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23194, 4 December 1940, Page 8

THE TROOPS IN EGYPT

SIR JOHN DUIGAN’S VISIT COMMENT ON CONFERENCE IN INDIA [From the Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East.) CAIRO, December 2. First-hand knowledge of the activities of the Expeditionary Force in the Middle East has been gained by the Chief of the New Zealand General Staff (Major-General Sir John Duigan), who paid, a brief visit to the - force after attending the economic conference in India. Troops in the base camp paraded ceremonially in his honour, and he inspected training work before leaving to visit the wellseasoned troops in the field. He was impressed by the splendid display provided by the troops on parade, and told them that he could see that the New Zealanders were becoming hard, tough, and ready to meet any possible emergency. Sir John Duigan added: “It looks as if you will get a chance to meet the enemy later, and I convinced that he will then realise that he is fighting soldiers for whom he should have the greatest respect.” Sir John said he hoped to be home by Christmas, and would take back greetings on their behalf to those who wished them well, and whose thoughts were constantly with them. A spirit of complete co-operation was the keynote of the Empire conference held in India recently to discuss the problems of war-time production and supply, said Sir John Duigan, in an interview. He added that the conference laid plans for mobilising the whole resources of the countries forming the eastern bloc with only one objective in view, namely, to defeat the enemy. He could not yet reveal the specific part New Zealand or any other individual country would play when the plans were in full operation; but he said the results of the conference foreshadowed a tremendous increase in the production of munitions and supplies. Sir John Duigan paid a tribute to the great spirit of confidence and enthusiasm which was evident among Empire peoples east ox Suez.