"ON THEIR TOES."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 92, 19 April 1941, Page 10

"ON THEIR TOES."

N.Z. MEN CONFIDENT.

Crack Hitler Division Given

Sharp Lesson ?

Inilcrt Trrss Association. — Copyright. (Herd. 2 p.m.) CAIRO. April IS

"To say I hat our men were on their toes would be putting it mildly. They were simply itching to go, and just as cunning as the Germans, and splendidly equipped, they have not the slightest doubt that they will give a great account of themselves," said one member of the troops, who lias just returned from the front, continues the dispatch from the war correspondent with the 12nd X.Z.E.P.

lie ad fled that, although they could nut lie sure, he was of the opinion tha'. i! whs some, of the New Zealand troops who had taught the crack Adolf Hitlci Division a sharp lesson recently, because our troops were astride. the railway, and ho had scon many Gorman prisoner* passing through the back area.

The line now taken up by the Empire troops was behind tiiat originally occupied, and much stronger, a* the men were safely entrenched in the foothills in dense bush, which necessitated the cutting of trees to secure a good field of fire for weapons. These hills reminded the soldiers of Central Otago country. The valleys had been given ; i!ie|w Zealand names, and if the German* advanced they would find on notfjßc hJarcls Kiwi Valley, Paekakariki I'ass and other names, accofdftjjH||o the district from which the drawn in the Dominion. -sWif

"Shaving Sticks" Encountered

Already they had made acquaintance with a new Nazi war device, "shaving sticks," which were designed on similar lines to the thermos bombs met in th» Western Desert. These had been found scattered around the lines and camp areas, and now were treated with healthy respect.

When the party was at Athens on the return journey they met two New Zenlanders who had been engaged in alluvial gold-mining in Western Macedonia —Mr. Brown of Invercargill and Mr. Tyson of Duncdin.

They were fortunate to escape the oncoming Germans, and had heard that New Zealand troops were in Greece. They are anxioun to meet them, but could not identify them because they were not wearing the customary peaked hat.

Mr. Brown proudly displayed r tattoo mark which had been made in Cairo when he was serving with the New Zealand forces in the last war. These men had seen the smoke of German artillery a3 they made their way to safety. Mr. Brown has a brother in the signallers.

Leave in Athens was a real treat to the men from the de*ert, who found friends eaeily, but were dismayed to find that Greek girls were not allowed to dance with soldiers, as their Government had decided that as many were lighting, others at the back should not be able to enjoy themselves in their absence. Dictators Despised. This is a .simple instance, typical of the wholeheartedness of the Greek war effort, the Greek hatred of Mussolini being very thorough. In fact, he is despised and considered of no account. Hitler comes in for similar treatment.

The people of Athene were astounded at the calmness displayed by New Zealand soldiers during air raid*, and had been cheered by their example, said another soldier. At a railway station in the interior, a member of the Reserve Motor Transport Company was sitting on a pile of boxes on a platform when eight Nazi planes came down low and flew overhead. He did not move, and when a second New Zealand soldier went over to speak to him afterwards he mw painted on the boxes the letters T.N.T. "Why on earth didn"t you run for it?" he asked.

"If they had collected this packet it would have been precious little use running," was the reply.

■Such bearing was a magnificent example to the people of the towns and villages, who have little organised air defence, said the soldier relating the story. He added that everywhere our men were held in the highest regard.