AT FULL STRENGTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 164, 14 July 1941, Page 8

AT FULL STRENGTH

DOMINION DIVISION

CALL ON REINFORCEMENTS (N.Z.E.P. Official News Service.) CAIRO, July 12. Brought up to strength by the absorption of reinforcements from the ample reserves, many of whom have trained in the desert for a considerable period, the New Zealand Division has been completely reorganised and has settled down to training. Undaunted by the experiences of the recent campaign in Greece and Crete, the men are throwing themselves into the task of hard training with renewed vigour.

After returning from Greece and Crete the men were given a period of leave, and on their return the reorganisation of the units was commenced without delay. The onlythought in the minds of all at that time was to be ready for action again as soon as possible.

It is a new division that has now resumed training—new not so much in the sense that new faces have appeared in the ranks, but new in that it is able to launch into arduous training possessed of valuable experience and knowledge gained in the recent fighting. Efficiency Increased The reorganisation of the division was not without interest. Many of che old hands have now been joined by brothers or friends who were members of reinforcement units. Brothers who have not met in many months are now together in the same . units. Most of these reinforcements taken into the division are already experienced in the desert. Already senior officers are lecturing officers, non-commissioned officers and men on different aspects of the campaign, and, consequently, the efficiency of the training has been considerably increased.

The resourcefulness of the average New Zealander enables our men to apply to advantage the lessons they themselves derived from the fighting. This, combined with the more enlightened instruction now being received, will produce a division that can be counted on to undertake any task.

Indicating the keen spirit existing, strong competition was found in all reinforcement units for places in the division when the reorganisation was in progress. Those who still require more training before joining the division are very disappointed, but they will have the benefit of advanced training based on the experience of recent fighting.