GREECE AND CRETE BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 23950, 30 July 1941, Page 4

GREECE AND CRETE BATTLE

G.O.C.'S MESSAGE TO PARLIAMENT VALOUR OF MAORI AND PAKIHA (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 29. A message from Major-general Freyberg replying to motions adopted by both Houses of Parliament last month congratulating the New Zealand troops on their performance in Greece and Crete was read- by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Nash, when the House resumed at 7.30 to-night. Mr Nash said he had just received General Freyberg’s message,- which was as follows :—■ “ The most generous and inspiring motion adopted by both Houses of Parliament has been published to the New Zealand Division. Would you please convey to both f Houses our grateful thanks for the motion, the terms of which are deeply appreciated by all ranks. Would you please convey my respectful duty to the General Assembly and say bow proud 1 am as commander of the New Zealand Division in the knowledge that your tribute to the valour of Maori and paikeha on the battlefields of Greece and Crete is deserved by all ranks. Wo hope to achieve a record as honourable as that of the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force. ;

“ May I also pay tribute to our gallant comrades who have fallen, and would you convey to the people of New Zealand who are sorrowing our deepest sympathy. May I thank Parliament, also, for its personal message of con fidence. I will endeavour to deserve it Wo have been through ordeals and grim days, and there may be other grim ones ahead, but we have no doubt of the ultimate success of our‘causeAgain our most grateful thanks. Kia Ora, Katoa.” , Replying to the message sent on June 2 expressing the Dominion’s sincere thanks for his magnificent woik in Crete, Major-general Frey berg has replied:— ‘ “ I am very distressed to find that I have not acknowledged your message of June 2, which was overlooked in that time of anxiety and reorganisation. Mr Fraser read the message to us on parade here, and 1 need hardly say how deeply touched we were by its warm sincerity. All were then in an advanced state of exhaustion. Wo had been from May 25 to May 30 without sleep and in a state of grave anxiety. Our office oiganisation in the division was non-existent, and in moving back to Helwan the written message was lost. In searching through a Middle East cypher message for the purposes of writing a despatch on Crete the message was found. As you know, 1 have always tried to answer correspondence with despatch. _ “ Will you, if possible at this late hour, if you think it advisable, explain our difficulties and say how grateful wo all were to the Government and the people of New Zealand for their unfailing support and kindness, and soy also that I personally will try to deserve some of the confidence placed in Pie,”