GERMAN GENERAL
INOTDENT IN EGYPT
THE HANDLING OF "NIGGEBS"
(By Air MaU—From "The Post's" London Representative.) LONDON, June 7. Gazetted in March as a lieutenant in the R.A.M.C., Mr. A. E. Porritt, formerly of Wanganui, is now a lieu-tenant-colonel. He is serving with the B.E.F. in France. A 1923 Rhodes Scholar, he was the first medical student to be elected from the Dominion. In 1936 he was appointed surgeon in ordinary to the Duke and Duchess of York. Later, he was appointed surgeon to his Majesty's Household. Charles Graves, in the "Daily Mail," i mentions that Mrs. Porritt, in a conversation, recalled meeting General yon Reichenau, who now commands the 6th German Army, with headquarters in Brussels. About 18 months ago, Mrs. Porritt said that the General was one of • a party which went out on donkeys to visit a temple between Assuan and Luxor, only to find Egyptian soldiers guarding it. As they had no passes they were refused admission. General yon Reichenau grew furious, seized Mrs. Porritt by the arm, and said, "As an Englishwoman, you will certainly he able to get past the sentries with me." The soldiers still refused permission politely. General yon Reichenau flew off the handle. "But, General," said Mrs. Porritt, "these men are soldiers, and they are only obeying orders. If they were yours you would shoot them if they did not obey orders, wouldn't you?" "I don't care," said General yon Reichenau. "It is intolerable to be treated like this by niggers." Then smashing his fist into the palm of his hand, he went on, "If you and the Italians don't know how to handle niggers, other people do." "It was very early in the morning before breakfast, and he may not have been in the best of moods," Mrs. Porritt added. "He was in civilian clothes so that there was no suggestion of an 'affront' to his rank. "Personally, we liked him, and always found him a pleasant person to be with." Mrs. Porritt is doing canteen work while her husband is in France.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400702.2.32
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 2, 2 July 1940, Page 6
Word Count
343GERMAN GENERAL Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 2, 2 July 1940, Page 6
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