WELL CONDUCTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 134, 3 December 1940, Page 11

WELL CONDUCTED

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

IMPRESSIONS OVERSEAS

RESILIENT BRITAIN

The fact that the conduct of the New Zealand troops abroad, en route to the battle fronts, had been excellent was stressed by Major A. S. Muir in mentioning, when addressing the Gisborne Rotary Club, that he wished to take the | opportunity of refuting some of the j completely unfounded statements made j concerning the behaviour of those i troops ashore. There was, of course, horse-play, said Major Muir, who had j accompanied two echelons abroad, but incidents of which New Zealanders need be ashamed were very few. The New Zealand Government had not had to meet a single claim for damage done ashore by the troops. Hospitality extended to the Second Echelon at ports of call had been remarkable, said Major Muir. The, arrival of the echelon in Great Britain | was effected at a critical stage of the war, and the reception was more hearty than might have been expected in relation to the actual number of troops involved. The coming of the Anzacs to take part in the defence of Britain was undoubtedly a fine tonic for the public there, and within a few days the echelon had been assigned its section of the battle line to face the possibility of invasion. BRITAIN'S RESOURCES. . What impressed him at that time, Major Muir said, was the rapidity with which the resources of Great Britain we're exploited to recover the ground lost through the destruction of munitions, weapons, and stores in France. Almost. overnight the situation was patched up for temporary purposes, and within a few weeks the units in the front area were fully armed and equipped again. It was truly an amazing proof of the resilience and the immense resources of the country.

London was packed with people, and the characteristic spirit there was one of determination to "stand the gaff" when the expected bombing raids developed. That was, indeed, the characteristic spirit of the whole country. The precautions against invasion put a heavy burden of regulations upon the civil population, but every regulation was accepted and obeyed without obstruction. QUICK AND SALUTARY PENALTY. The motorists were obliged, for instance, to immobilise their cars when leaving them unattended, and this irksome obligation involved some difficulty, but the motorist took the rules and went by them. Offenders could be prosecuted, but a quicker and thoroughly effective way of enforcing the law was to let down the four tyres of any car found movable. The Local Defence Volunteers, an organisation formed to protect the back areas, was a force that »would have to be reckoned with in any emergency. Its members were civilians who followed their normal occupations but changed over to guard duties at night. They had power to halt any pedestrian or vehicle for examination, and if their orders were not obeyed they had authority to shoot. They did not hesitate to use that authority, and had been supported by the powers that be and the public for doing so. They were there to do their best, and were keen and enthusiastic on their work. VOLUME OF SHIPPING. One who had an opportunity of seeing something of Britain's great ports could not but be impressed and given confidence by the enormous volume of shipping using those ports. Reading the weekly reports of sinkings by mine and submarine, one might gain the impression that the situation was serious, but the enormous number of ships turned round in the ports plainly pointed to a long and heavy task for the Nazis if they hoped to cripple Britain's mercantile fleets. The work of the Mercantile Marine in the war areas was tremendous, he said, and full of courage. The hazards of deep water were treated with contempt, even though they were added to in these days by the terrors of Nazi weapons and the scant consideration of Nazi fighters for the safety of crews. TIDE HAS TURNED. Major Muir spoke also of the development of war industries in India, reports the "Gisborne Herald," and said that in a few months India would be able to supply all the requirements of the British in the Middle East. The chief impression he had gathered during his travels abroad was that the war was only just beginning, so far as the Empire was concerned. The men who were fighting our battles now were fine men, and the gathering strength of the Empire was getting an opportunity, to exert itself against the weaker partner in the Axis. The invasion of Greece by the Italians seemed to be the big chance the British forces had been waiting for, and though the war must still be a long job, there was no doubt that the tide had turned in Britain's favour.