NOTABLE PERSONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1942, Page 4

NOTABLE PERSONS

CONTACTS IN INDIA

PRAISE FOR N.Z. TROOPS

During his stay in India as the New Zealarfd representative on the Eastern Group Supply Council, Mr. F. R. Picot came into personal touch with many notable figures. He was particularly impressed with the Chinese leader, Chiang Kai-shek, and his wife, who in February last paid a three weeks' visit to India.

"The influence of the Generalissimo and his wife upon Indian public opinion," stated Mr. Picot to an interviewer, "was enormous. Madame Chiang, as she is called, spent most of her time talking to the women of India. She travelled'far, and the stories she told of the sufferings of Chinese womanhood at the hands of the apostles/of the so-called 'new order' in Asia deeply stirred the emotions; in fact* Madame Chiang herself frequently broke down as she endeavoured to picture the frightful atrocities, particularly in the city of Nanking.

"The Generalissimo," continued Mr. Picot, "did not share the widespread opinion of the moment that the Japanese would be an easy nut to crack. He realised from the start their capacity, and the fact that China, under his leadership, had carried on the struggle for four years did not cloud his outlook of the future, which, in his opinion, would bring the major struggle now confronting the world.

PRAISE FROM HIGH QUARTERS

"I saw a lot of General Wavell, now Commander-in-Chief in India," said Mr. Picot, "and he frequently told me that we should be proud of our New Zealand soldiers- He regarded them as one of the finest divisions ever to come under his command, and mentioned their discipline and general good behaviour, and particularly stressed their bravery as outstanding. General Wavell, who had met our Prime Minister in Egypt, expressed a strong desire some day to visit the Dominion. Our people will also be interested to know that General Auchinleck has always taken a keen interest in the activities of the New Zealanders, and expressed an opinion prior to being transferred to the Middle East that he would love to control such a division. Ultimately he realised that desire. Our men have won so splendid a reputation," concluded Mr. Picot, "that one had only to mention that he was a New Zealander at once to become persona grata wherever he be."