KING IN ITALY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 178, 29 July 1944, Page 6

KING IN ITALY

N.Z. LINES VISITED

CHEERING KIWI CROWDS

(N.Z.B.F. Official War Correspondent) NEAR FLORENCE, July 26

Many New Zealanders saw King George and a few were lucky enough to speak with him during his flying visit to the Italian fronts to-day. On its wav up from Via Cassia the Royal cava cade passed through the New Zealand sector at a point scarcely twenty miles south ot Florence. Dust was the keynote of the visit. It lav thick on the narrow winding secondary roads traversed by the Fine's open car. Where the road wouna nigher into the hills the King who was accompanied by General Leese and General Alexander, paused to receive General Fieyberg's representative, Brigadier Tnglis The meeting took place in the shadow of oaks, some of which showed deep brown scars of artillery fire, but despite a faint rumble of guns the war seemed far away. _ Brigadier Inglis, whose previous meeting with the King was in 1941, accompanied His Majesty through the divisional sector. The road was lined with cheering Kiwis, and now and then the King would stop ancl chat with the men. The greater part of the Division was not present, as the battle for Florence is reaching a crucial stage. Those who were there were quick to recognise the familiar features under the redbanded cap, despite persistent clouds of yellow vapour which proved no respector of Royalty. Near a tiny hill village, - the cars passed through lanes of New Zealanders, and turned around the hillside under way to visit troops of the sister Dominion, South Africa.