N.Z.E.F. IN GREECE

Evening Star, Issue 23864, 19 April 1941, Page 10

N.Z.E.F. IN GREECE

VIVID PICTURE OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS DUG-IN AGAINST GERMAN ADVANCE (From the Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East, per Cable and Wireless Ltd.) CAIRO. April 18. “ It is such a wonderful country and so much like home that it is a great privilege to be able to fight for it.” In these words a Ncw Zealand soldier who has just returned from Greece sums up how our division feels about being sent to take part in the war in the Balkans. He is one of a small party that has just arrived back at base camp. There was tremendous speculation as to where the division was going when it moved out from camp, repeating the experiences of an older generation who went out into the unknown to find that they had been selected to make the landing at Gallipoli. They were old soldiers as far as rumours were concerned, and believed nothing until they sailed into a Greek port to find General Freyberg on the wharf to meet them. Their reception by the Greek populace was overwhelming, and this, combined with the green hills and neat, fresh-looking buildings after months of dust and dry rocky outcrops that spell desert, made them feel as if they had arrived at homo. The first “ flight ” went in cruisers and made a very fast passage, but later flights travelled in small Greek boats of about the size of the Rangatira and Tamahine. The men in these parties struck a heavy gale in the Mediterranean, and had a very rough passage, and were glad to see land. GERMAN CONSUL VISITS CAMP. Greece was not then at war with Germany, and the German Consulate was still functioning when the first troops arrived, and the Consul used to take a constitutional stroll through their camp overlooking the Acropolis each evening. As he could speak excellent English, the men had to be on their guard. According to one version, the troops planned to haul down the Swastika from the consulate, but were forestalled. Where the Greeks learned the thumbs up sign nobody knew, but they had thoroughly adopted this now famous sign of happy-spirited defiance in the face of Nazi threats, and the New Zealanders were met with it at every turn. CURRENCY DIFFICULTIES. Language and currency presented some difficulty at first, reminding the men of their early days in Egypt, but (as one expressed it) they are now pretty good at the deaf and dumb language. Snow was falling as the advance parties set out for Thrace by rail, and travelled through Larissa to Katerini, whence they could see Salonika in front, while behind lay the famous Mount Olympus. Here our troops had their first experience of billets, and soon made friends in villages, where they were given eggs, wine, apples, and lollies shaped to represent the Ezvone soldiers of the Greek army. DIGGING FEATS. Next day the foremost troops dug in and found the clav easy going compared with the rock and stones of the desert. Camouflage was easy, too, and everything was so different with a chance of action after many weary months of waiting, that their enthusiasm led them on to feats of digging that can be described as phenomenal. ' The country was likened to that around Taihape, in the North Island. THEIR HOUR AT LAST. There was great enthusiasm among the New Zealand units when Germany declared war on Greece, for the men felt that at last the hour had come to strike and be able to put to good ‘use the lessons learned during their lengthy training.

“ To say that our men were on their toes would be putting it mildly; they were simply itching to go; and, just as cunning as the Germans, and splendidly equipped, they have not the slightest doubt that they will give a great account of themselves,” said one member of the troops who have just returned from the front. He added that although they could not be sure, he was of the opinion that it was some of the New Zealand troops who had taught the crack Adolf Hitler Division a sharp lesson recently, because our troops were astride the railway, and he had seen many German prisoners passing through the back area. A STRONG LINE. The lino now taken up by the Empire troops is behind that originally occupied, and much stronger, as the'men are safely entrenched in the foothills in such dense bush as necessitated the cutting of trees to secure a good field of fire for their weapons. These hills reminded the soldiers of Central Otago country. The valleys had been given New Zealand names, and if the Germans advanced they would find on notice boards Kiwi Valley, Paekakariki Hill, Khyber Pass, and other names according to the district from which the units were,drawn in the Dominion.. NAZI WAR DEVICE. Already they have made acquaintance with the new Nazi war device “ shaving sticks,” which are designed on similar lines to the thermos bombs met in the Western Desert. These have been found scattered around the lines and camp areas, and are now treated with healthy respect. A DUNEDINITE. When the party was at Athens on the return journey, they met two New Zealanders who had been engaged in alluvial gold raining in Western Macedonia—Brown, of Invercargill, and Tyson, of Dunedin. They were fortunate to escape the oncoming Germans, and had heard that New Zealand troops were in Greece and anxious to meet them, but could not identify them because they wore not wearing the customary ipoaked hat. Brown proudly displayed a tattoo mark which had been made in Cairo when he was serving with the New Zealand forces in tho last war. These men had seen the smoke of the German artillery as they made their way to safety. Brown has a brother in the Signallers. THE GREEK GIRLS. Leave in Athens was a real treat to the men from the desert, who found friends easily, but were dismayed to find that the Greek girls were not allowed to dance with soldiers, as their Government decided ' that, as many were fighting, others at the back should not be able to enjoy themselves in their absence. This simple instance is typical of the whole-heartodness of the Greek war effort, tho Greek hatred of Mussolini being very thorough. In fact, he is despised and considered of no account. HITLER HATRED, Hitler comes in for similar treatment. TRe people of Athens wore astounded at the calmness displayed by New Zealand soldiers during air raids, and had been cheered by their example, said another soldier. QUITE UNPERTURBED. ' At a railway station in the interior, a member of the Reserve Motor Transport Company was sitting on a pile of boxes on the platform when eight Nazi planes came down low and flew overhead. He did not move, and when a second New Zealand soldier went over to speak to him afterwards, he saw painted on the boxes tho letters “Ammunition.” “ Why on earth didn’t you run for it?” ho said. “ If they had collected this packet it would have been precious little use running.” Such bearing was a magnificent example to the people of the towns and. villages who have little organised air defence, said the soldier relating the story, who added that everywhere our men were held in the highest regard.