N.Z. force in Rhodesia

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 2

N.Z. force in Rhodesia

NZPA-Reuter Salisbury The first official New Zealand and Australian forces ; to set foot on African soil since World War 11 have arrived at Salisbury to join the Commonwealth peacekeeping army that will monitor elections. The first of the New Zealand soldiers under the command of Colonel D. Moloney by Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules. The rest were expected to arrive with the main Australian, force later. With the advance party of 14. Australian officers and men and four Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials was a lone Fijian, Major Arthur Soqosoqq, who will head a. 24-member contingent of Fij.ans. "We are all very exicted about the whole thing,” he ■ said. : “We have got quite a job ; i to do and we will do our best. We hope we will all • go back home from here.” ■ Major Soqosoqo said some : I of the 1200 peace-keeping; ! soldiers from Australia, Brit-1 ian, Fiji, Kenya and New! Zealand could be lost in the two months through a ceasefire to elections. ■‘That’s always a possi-.

bility, where there has been a conflict.” he said. Colonel Moloney, who like his men looked tired after their exhausting flight from Auckland, said the morale of his troops was high although they had to come laway at Christmas. There ’had been some frustrating delays getting away, but 1 everyone had travelled well, considering the Hercules was not. a luxury aircraft. The Officer Commanding British Forces in Rhodesia i (Major-General T. Ackland) ’is formally declared to be appointed commander of the Commonwealth cease-fire monitoring organisation by an order gazetted in Wellington. It is made under the Visiting Forces Act, 1939, and gives the commander authority over New Zealand troops in the monitoring force. The order, signed by the Minister of Health (Mr’Gair) (for the Minister of Defence ((Mr Gill) declares that NewZealand and Australian ' forces are “serving together (wherever they are serving (with each other" and that (New Zealand and British (forces are “serving with (each other” and “acting in (combination.”