N.Z.E.F. MOVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 6

N.Z.E.F. MOVE

DRIVE TO FLORENCE

250 MILES IN SECRET

(Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) ADVANCED ALLIED FORCE

HEADQUARTERS, July 26,

The lifting of the security stop imposed on the last three Avceks' activities of the New Zealand Division Avas released this morning. Our troops are taking part in a drive on Florence. Against their old enemies of Crete and Cassino—--the German parachutists— the NeAV Zealanders have driven the enemy back fi\'c miles north from Tavernelle since taking the toAvn two days ago and are still rolling on with tanks and infantry toAvards San Casciano, across the Pisa River valley. Our troops are the most forward Allied forces astride HighAvay 2. Tavernelle lies to the Avest of the highway. A N.Z.E.F. corespondem on the { Arezzo front says the NeAV Zealand Division has completed its third secret move since landing in -Italy in October of last year: The first such movement, reminiscent of themany surprise manoeuvres carried out'against Rommel's Afrika Korps iri the desert campaigns, was that which took the KiAvis from Taranto into action on'the Sangro River last November. On that occasion the secrecy was so well preserved that the Siegfried Line \vas broken before the Germans knew of the presence of the NeAV Zealand troops in the area. Then there was a sudden sAveep across Italy and into the Cassino area in late January. There again the element of surprise was secured. ' The latest move has carried our troops 250 mile's nprthivard from the rest area near 'Arce into action on the approaches to Arezzo. The people in New Zealand may have wondered at the lack Of ii.avs from the Division since the taking of Avezzano—there was comment in the New Zealand Press on a similar silence early this year—but ample justification can be found in the added Aveight of the blow by this powerful formation when it falls in an unsuspected quarter. The Germans have the best of reasons for .taking an interest in the movements of the New Zealanders, as a study of past campaigns will show. IDENTITY OBSCURED. The move was accomplished mainly in darkness, unit convoys rolling out from pasture lands on to the northern highway in an almost total' black-out. As usual all badges and titles were removed, and the sign of the fernleaf on the vehicle plates was obscured. Though speed was necessarily sloav as the long columns moved north through the debris of the advance on Rome, the first light brought a dramatic appearance of the weathered Avails and aqueducts. The great city Ai'as skirted and the move continued through rolling country of .vineyards and olive trees. ■ Over one' hundred miles passed beneath the wheels before the staging area was reached and the vehicles leaguered to await darkness. The rest of the day was spent in maintenance, refuelling, and rest. By daAvn of the following day • the New Zealanders were near the southern shores of the historic Lake Trasimeno, and Avithin the sound of artillery again for the first time in more than a month. The journey was nearly over. All that remained was to move forward to positions from where the NeAV Zealanders could' lend Aveight to the drive on Arezzo and Florence.

The country north of the lake is jfmong the most pleasant through Avhich we have moved. The most striking difference noticed by the men is that of the weather as compared with that of the central valleys and plains of Rome. The nights are pleasantly cool, and though the sunshine is continuous throughout the daylight, there is ahvays a light breeze. The country is one of Avide plains, covered with thick grass, trees, and vineyards. Beyond and. around are hills and moun,tains crowned with green' and with the spires and turrets of the villages, some of which are older than Rome itself. .The .greatest mass of mountains lies, ahead—the rugged backbone of Italy, through which runs the Gothic Line from Pisa to Rimini, barring our way to the wide plains of Lombardy and-Venetia.