"STANDING IN LINE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 82, 7 April 1941, Page 8

"STANDING IN LINE"

MR. FRASER'S MESSAGE TO MEN

The text of the Prime Minister's announcement was as follows:—

With reference to the latest instance of German aggression the following announcement is being made in London, Canberra, and Wellington: After the entry of German troops into Bulgaria had brought to a head the long threatened German invasion of the Balkans his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, in full consultation with the Dominion Governments concerned, have sent an army to Greece, comprising troops from Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand to stand in line with the soldiers of our brave ally in their defence of their native soil. The British Air Force which has for some time been operating in Greece against the Italians has been strongly reinforced. Mr. Fraser said that the people of New Zealand Avould, he knew, wholeheartedly join with him in extending godspeed to our boys in the task which confronted them and in the fullest confidence that they would acquit themselves as men and as New Zealanders. MESSAGE TO GENERAL FREYBERG. This morning he had dispatched the following message to Maj or-General Freyberg:— My colleagues and I and all the people of this Dominion extend to you and to the officers and men under your command our earnest and heartfelt good wishes in the operations that you are now about to undertake. Our thoughts and prayers are constantly with you and particularly so at this moment. We have every confidence that the Second N.Z.E.F. will add fresh lustre to the laurels earned by its famous predecessor. All good fortune and God be with you.