MR FRASER IN ITALY

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24271, 31 May 1944, Page 3

MR FRASER IN ITALY

Visits to New Zealand

Units

MANPOWER DISCUSSED WITH TROOPS

(Official Wai Correspondent N.Z.Ki'.l GENERAL FREYBERG’S HEADQUARTERS, ITALY May 29.

The Prime Minister (the Rl. Hon. P. Fraser) is likely to meet officers and men of almost every unit of (lie New Zealand Division before he ends bis present visit to Vhe forward area. Apart from his tour of the Cassino battlefields, he has filled every daylight hour with calls on formations in position here. Most of the time Mr Fraser has been personally conducted by General FreyIjerg, and most of the time they have ridden in an open jeep, uphill, down dale, over the twisting mountain roads, along sunny valleys whose corn fields and olive groves are rich with spring growth, and sprinkled with blood-red poppies. They have skimmed rotmd hairpin bends, bounced along rough tracks, mile after mile. New Zealanders in never ending streams of traffic flowing to and from the front line stare, then wave and whistle, to the figure in grey slacks and grey Army issue jersey sitting in the jeep weaving in and out of lines of vehicles. Mr Fraser sleeps in a caravan at headquarters. He has breakfasted early each morning with the commander and staff, and then set out immediately to start a full day’s programme. Each unit is advised in advance of his visit, and he arrives to find officers and men assembled to meet him. After speaking to many of them personally, he has them brought round him in a circle, and tells them of " T ew Zealand’s pride in the reputation they have earned for themselves on the battlefields in the Mediterranean theatre. He explains the Dominion's manpower situation, and the adjustments that have been made necessary by the urgent dem.nd for increased food production, and discusses in general terms the effect that these adjustments, together with the prevailing military situation, may have on the future disposition of New Zealand forces, Mr Fraser invites the men to ask questions, and they have shown particular interest in the working of the furlough scheme and rehabilita-

tion. „ . , Between visits to New Zealand units Mr Fraser . has called on General Leese commander of the Bth Army, and also on the general commanding the corps with which the New Zealanders are serving.

NEWEST GERMAN AIRCRAFT FIGHTER AND BOMBER PERFORMANCES

(Rcc. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Performance details of some ot many’s newest aeroplanes are given by the aeronautical editor Times.” The Messerschmitt 109 GO single-engined fighter reaches a top speed of 400 miles an hour at 22.000 feet. A fighter-bomber version of this machine at the same altitude attains 385 miles an hour. These Messerschmitts cany three 20-millimetre and two 13-millimetre §U The Germans have increased the wingspan of the Dornier 217 K2 which is equipped with two radio-controlled armour-piercing bombs, obviously tor use against warships. Its total bomb load is now 66001b. The machine carries nine guns. . T ft The Heinkel 177, which is the Luftwafle’s nearest approach to a heavy bomber of the Royal Air Force now carries a bomb load of 12.3001b. It has a maximum speed of 285 miles an hour at 20,000 feet.

SHOOTING OF PRISONERS N.Z. AIRMAN TO REPORT LONDON, May ifl The repatriated New Zealand ailman Group Captain John Grocott. who was'in Stalag Luft 3at the tune of the shooting of 47 Air Force ofiiceis has made a long statement to the Bulish Government. Group Captain Grocott. who was repatriated with the last batch of prisoners of war. disembaik ed from the Gripsholm at Algiers and was flovn home in a special aeniplan The diplomatic correspondent'° f tn ••Daily Telegraph understands that tl?e Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) intends to make a sta^ | t^ t c ‘" £ House of Commons on Gioup Captain Grocott’s report, which is at present a close secret. _

COASTAL COMMAND’S RECORD

moc- 7 nm) LONDON, May 29 Coastal Command aircraft have: contributed greatly to operations, says the Pi ess Associ tion’s aviation writer, Rocket tor pedo, and cannon-firing Bcaufighlcis and other aircraft in recent weeks have co-operated with a succcssion o powerful strikes against t e Geiman,

coastal shipping. . j nnr j ('nn“Australian. New Zealand, and adian squadrons, operating Beauhgh ers Mosquitoes, Wellingtons, and Albacores in the last seven months have

made 563 attacks against enemy vessels. At least 66 were sunk or damaged. “In the last three years, to Maicn 1 079.907 tons of enemy shipping have been attacked and 287.718 tons sunk. RUSSIANS BOMB AIRFIELDS LONDON, May 29 The Moscow communique again ieports no big changes. Russian aircraft this morning can it i mit a mass raid on German airfields in Rumania. 40 miles, south-west ana south-east of lasy. At least 60 enemj aircraft were damaged or destroyed on the ground. All the Russian machines returned. Thirty-throe more enejm machines were shot down in combat and by anti-aircraft fire 10-da>.

Swedish Aeroplane Shot Down.— The Swedish Government has protested to Germany about the shooting down of a Swedish aeroplane in international waters in the Baltic.. It is reported that since the protest has been lodged two other Swedish aeroplanes nave disappeared.—London, May 29.