RECALL OF M.E.F

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13057, 27 January 1943, Page 2

RECALL OF M.E.F

Sir, The facts seem to point quite definitely to the conclusion that our Middle East Forces are among the shock troops of the Empire. They had the post of honour in Greece, covering the retreat from Olympus to the coast, they were not so bad in Crete. Their recall from Syria was contemporaneous with the stopping of Rommel just short of Alexandria last winter, and they were in the Man of Montgomery's initial break through in October. Without any conceit or wishful thinking we can safely say they ' constitute a highly trained and specially equipped and essential part of the Empire's war machine.

I am sure the troops themselves would definitely refuse to quit the job half done and just as sure that all decent New Zealanders —be they parents, wives," friends or sweethearts —would not wish their recall and resent intensely the desire and intention of such recall being made public on the eve of some small tinpot political election. The Government, with its nashy little politics, is so saturated with the atmosphere of the Trades Hall that it. is totally out of touch with the decent 95 per cent, of the population.

Now New Zealand is a great little country in all ways and just as economically, it can stand the looting, ramps and waste that are rampant so equally the reputation of our soldiers more than outweighs the ineptitude of our politicians. The Nash idea of Nash, and the dirty clothes washings of Langstone, almost endear them to us, like Fopeye the Sailor and his spinach and Geo. Fonnby, Marx Bros, and other comedians, but when our politicians begin cabling to Churchill to drag our troops home to the detriment of the war effort of the United Nations, and moreover take this contemptible step for political purposes then it is time for the people to buck.

As the freedom of the Press and postal service is a thing of the past I suggest that all associations, chambers, public bodies, loyal unions etc., cable something as follows: "Winston Churchill, London. "Government's attempt to bring N.Z.E.F. home is not in keeping with feeling of country, which has absolute confidence in Freyberg and High Command." Naturally in our democracy the censor will block this cable and the papers will not be allowed to publish the cable or the fact that it has been blocked. (One supposes that when a cable is censored the charge therefore is refunded). But if enough of these cables are sent most of the population will know of them, and of the real state of affairs in our democracy, and it should stop any further shame being put on our men for political purposes by rather Nashly little men sitting safe and pretty in cushy jobs,—l am, etc. NORTON THOMPSON.