CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 43, 20 February 1940, Page 6

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS.

THE "COUNTRY ROYS." # (To The Editor J) The reference by the German broadcast to the New Zealanders m ignorant country boy« must have been made by • person unaware of the intelligence eummaries issued by the German High Gourmand in the bet war. A summary captured in August, 1918, signed by "Walther, Colonel," finished with it« information concerning the New Zealand Division: "A particularly good amaidt (that is storm troops) division. Ha characteristic is a very stzeqgly developed individual self-confidence or enterprtee typical of the colonial lag. lishman, and a specially pronounced hatred of the Germans." Again, the. commander of the Fourth German Otatps stated that the German infantry eonkl not return in the Battle of the Sommt "filled with the conviction of superiority." That was after the Sew Zealand Division captured the crowning ridge' of the Finst Sonnne at DdiilU Wood and drove the enemy headlong for over a mile. The morose, uncomplimentary references to his own troops and the efficiency of the enemy found in a German officer's diary at that period ' in that area could not lead one to infer that the opponent* were ignorant country boys. The Dominion Defence Minister is'to he congratulated, as the New Zealand Division is going to have as "brigadiers three outstanding .battalion commanders. It is interesting to note that while Barrowclough of the Rifle Brigade, in the last few days of the war, invested and took I> Quesnoy by " assault, Hargest with his Otago Battalion drove the Germans out of the neighbouring forest of Mormal, the lnei or drives of which were slashed by the Australian artillery. The XewZeaJand recruits can have "confidence in their j commanders. That is what a soldier most needs. There were other attwi who were prominent by their «olfier)r qualities. The authorities should sent f the h*tory of the New Zealand DSvirion. seek these men and send them off at once, if they are passed as fit. Sending •untried men is a gamble, and only after they have shown themselves In action, should thev be given senior commanding . positions. "The recruiting campaign be pushed in the full assurance that Ike New Zealanders "will be given the fußssfc opportunity of inflicting on the enony ~ the punishment that he well deserves. .. It is the duty of every New Zea lander to help in the campaign in order to = maintain the high prestige that thii country gained in the last war. DINK.