LEAVE IN TRIPOLI

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 4

LEAVE IN TRIPOLI

MAKING THE BEST OF IT

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) TRIPOLI, February 3. There is little gaiety,- only fun of their own making, for the New Zealanders who now visit Tripoli on leave. It is only day leave, for they must be out of the city by dark, but it's civilisation again, however restricted the life 4n the city may be. The New Zealanders spend most of their time in sightseeing, with the waterfront as the greatest attraction. Fronted with palm trees are many fine buildings—theatres, hotels, casinos, and clubs, once a playground for tourists. The main hotel still functions as such, but with none of its former splendour; i the guests must provide the kitchen with their own food. There is water, and an electric light service of a sort continues. Outstanding on. this fine waterfront is the Hotel Uaddan, where only a few weeks ago German officers were quartered and where Rommel occasionally dined. One of .the best features of this hotel is that it has a theatre, casino, and ballroom, of a magnificence which impresses the now welltravelled New Zealanders. The Italians are frien,dly enough. They appear willing to Be helpful, and will go out of their way to direct soldiers who wish to find any. place. English-spoken pictures are now being shown occasionally at the cinemas, and the troops of occupation have produced stage ?v:nvs. Shopping in Tripoli holds no excitement. There are pipes to be had, but no tobacco: fountain pens and razors, and a few shawls, rriostly. of a tawdry kind, and little that is worth while. British military currency is used in the form of notes of all denominations. We are told that a good proportion of the Italian population has remained, and every day more people are to be seen on the sidewalks. No restaurants are open, but there are a few places where Italians will cook rations provided by the soldiers and transform bully-beef into a most palatable dish. .. ,