THRONG ON WATERFRONT

Evening Star, Issue 24915, 13 July 1943, Page 5

THRONG ON WATERFRONT

HAPPY REUNIONS C9MMEKT ON GERMANS AS FIGHTERS <P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 12. When it became known that the troops had arrived crowds began to collect on the waterfront, and more and more joined the waiting throng as the time for the first of the men to come ashore drew near. It was an impatient crowd. About 9.30 a.m. the main iron gates of the wharf were temporarily opened, arid a rush started. The constables inside threw their weight against the gate, ■while the press continued from the outside. Several women fell, and others were jammed dangerously against the ironwork. Fortunately, no one was badly hurt, although one woman was trampled somewhat, arid a child was rescued from the crash just in time. The comment was made that the morale of the Italians Was very low, and at the finish in Tunisia the Germans were also glad to get out; of it. One lieutenant, who'served as a .guerrilla in Greece, Said the Germans fell into three classes, as follows:—First, the young Germans, who were sadistic and fanatically devoted to Hitler; secondly) the front-line troops, "Who were not bad fellows, and respected us as opponents," and, thirdly, the older men, who were quiet and had no use for war. Individually, the Germans were decent, but wh«n they had an audience they could not be trusted.

At 11 o'clock the waiting ended, and there were many happy scenes as the men filed off the ship and met their relatives and friends at the gates. Expressions of delight at being home again were general, but some qualified their satisfaction. "It's very nice to be back again," a private from Dunedin said. " even if you don't arrange the weather better, but I feel sorry for some of the men who didn't come with ns. A man makes soine great friends in th. 6 army, arid he doesn't like to see them Mi, but I suppose, their turn will cotne. I hope it does:" When he was asked he felt about going back, he replied: "I will be going baok all right. You can't keep me out'of it, and plenty of my pals oft board here feel the same way About it." This attitude was confirmed by others, and an officer said that several, of the men had spoken to him about that aspect before they left. Among the men were many well known throughout New Zealand, including Lieutenant Keith 'Elliott, the . 27-year-oid . fawner, of Mangamaire, near Pahiatua (< who won the Victoria Cross at Ruweisat Ott July IB of last year. Lieutenant Elliott showed the modesty characteristic of the majority of V.C. winners. He met a request for an account of his exploits with a smile and a shake of his head, and the only comment he made was that he was glad to be back in New Zealand. There were many well-known sportsmen in the draft, including Captain D, Parsons, who Vas captain of the main New Zealand Rugby team in the Middle East, Captam E. W. Tipdill, the Wellington and New Zealand Rugby and cricket representative, Staffpergefihfc G. Wales, a Wellington Rugby -representative., who was in the main j fifteen in the Middle East, and Lieuten-ant-colonel J. T. Burrows, the fortiier All Black. ; The football in the- Middle Eflist wjjS first class, Colonel Burrows said. The most outstanding play had been among the forwards, and the teams had got right back to real New Zealand forward play again. - All ranks pid glowing tributes to the leadership of General Sir Bernard Montgomery, and said they would go anywhere with him. The pajtoha soldiers also had warm praise for their Maori comrades. " They are marvelloug soldiers," one said. The Maori casualties had been heavy, but that was only to be expected in the fighting they had undertaken. MAORIS* TAKROUNA EXPLOIT. " The job had to be done." was ajbout all Sergeant H. Matiahi, of the Maori Battalion, who won the D.C.M. iii the famous assault on Takrouna village, Tunisia, had to say about his part in the action. " Nine of us fr6m B Company carried out the first assault, arid one was wounded during the half-hour climb of the cliff, at the top of which the village stood," ho said. "It was a very hot strap at the top, the Italians fighting violently. It was men' 6f the Iblaore Division who were .trying to hold,the village. After a time our ammunitoin ran oiit, and we had to use captured Italian and German rings, machine guns, and ammunition. We managed, to hold on for the best part of the day, and then we were joined by men from C Company. Only three of us were left—Private H- Grant,, who was recommended for the Military Medal, and Lance-corporal Et. Hulia. Six were killed \n the fighting at the village." Lieutenant A. Mcßae, who found \ himself commanding B, Company in the Takrouna, village engagement when the company commander and platooh commanders had been wiped out, had \ more to say about: the feat. "Takrouna was the hottest scrap the Maori Battalion had in the whole fighting from Greece qnwards. El Alaraein wag a picnlo compared with it." he declared.

"The Italians fought nally hard. 1 The Folgore Division was a crack parachute division. The climb up the cliff face, which was almost perpendicular, would take . atoout half an hour In normal conditions, so you can judge what it Was like under lire. When the action ended there were scores of enemy lying in a ring round the spot our men had been holding, and 395 prisoners were taken. That illustrates what the assault party had been up against."