NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 July 1941, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

REOI ? G ANT SATIO N PR OGRESS (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service). CAIRO, July 12. Brought up to strength by the absorption of reinforcements from ample reserves, many of whom have been trained in the desert for a considerable period, the New Zealand Division has been completely reorganised and has settled down to training. Undaunted b.y their experiences in the recent campaigns in Greece and Crete, but rather, on the contrary with a spirit of quiet confidence in their own personal superiority over the Nazi troops, the men of the New Zealand Division are throwing themselves into the task of hard training with renewed vigour. Training has been 'in. progress for some time. After returning from Greece and Crete, the men were given a period ol leave, and on their return, the reorganisation of units commenced without delay. The only thought in their minds, all that time, was to be ready for action again as soon as possible. It is a new division that has now resumed training: new not so much in the sense that new faces have appeared in the ranks, but new in that it is able to launch into arduous training, possessed of valuable experience'and knowledge gained in the recent fighting. The New Zealanders have faced the enemy for the first time, and found that, man to man, he is not their equal. Furthermore, • they studied his method and learned much of value. Little wonder then, that a spirit of optimism inspires the present training efforts. The reorganisation of the division was not without interest. Many old hands have now been joined by brothers or friends, who were members of reinforcement units. Brothers who have not met in many months are now together in the same units. Most of these reinforcements taken into the division are already experienced in the desert and have graduated in the hardening-up process. Already senior officers are lecturing the officers, non-commissioned officers and men on the different aspects of the campaign. Consequently the efficiency of the 'training division has been considerably increased. Apart from benefiting from the new instruction, the men themselves, who are among the most intelligent and observant soldiers' found anywhere, have learned their own lessons. COMPETITION FOR PLACES. The resourcefulness of the average New Zealander enables our men to apply to advantage the lessons they themselves have derived from fighting. This, combined with a more enlightened instruction now being received, will produce a division that can be counted on to undertake any task, indicating the keen spirit existing in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, strong competition was found in all the reinforcement units for places in the divisions, when the reorganisation was in process. Those wno still require more training, before joining the division, are very disappointed, but they will have the benefit of advanced training based on experience of recent lighting. The people of New Zealand may rest assured that.il is not. a broken division now. training. It is a rejuvenated but wiser lighting body, attacking solid, hard training with a light heart, eager for an carlv meeting with the enemy. The spirit of all ranks may best be gauged from the statement of a well-known New Zealand athlete now recovering from a serious wound. This man, an officer in . a unit which had close contact with the Nazis, says: “The sooner I get but of hospital and get a crack at the Huns again the better I will like it. Give us conditions where both sides have equal' support, and each New Zealander is capable of taking Huns on two and three at a time.”