N.Z. TROOPS IN PACIFIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1943, Page 6

N.Z. TROOPS IN PACIFIC

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S VISIT [Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.] SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, Nov 21. The Governor-General (Sn cyrn Newall) visited New Zealand servicemen as far north as Vella Lavella and the Treasury Islands during a tour of forward Pacific war zones just completed. His Excellency was away from New Zealand for a fortnight, in which time he covered many thousands of miles to see in operational conditions units of the Navy, Army, and Air Force fighting in and round the Solomons area. On the way north, His Excellency visited Fiji, where he saw the Makogai leper settlement, supported generously by New Zealand contributions, and treating many patients from New Zealand’s dependencies, and the Central Medical School, Suva, the training ground for native medical practitioners. His tour ol tne armed forces opened at the Soutn Pacific base of the 3rd New Zealand Division, where he inspected reinforcements at their training depot, and personnel and installations at tne base. His Excellency spent several hours with hospital patients, where he talked with casualties? evacuated from the front lines. Members oi the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, New Zealand girls working lor Allied military officials, also had an opportunity ’of meeting the GovernorGeneral. In company with MajorGeneral Borrowclough, Sir Cyril Newall visited forward elements ol the division on islands of the Solomons group, where he met and spoke to almost every man of the force. His Excellency showed keen interest in the areas where New Zealanders had recently been fighting. On Treasury Island His Excellency saw a Japanese prisoner brought in by a New Zealand patrol. On Vella Lavella Sir Cyril Newall invested New, Zealanders with awards won during the recent campaign on that island. His Excellency spent several days with Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel. His visit to operational airstrips coincided with a period 01 heavy attacks on enemy airfields and shipping in the Bougainville area, and Sir Cyril Newall saw formations of New Zealand fighter aircraft on their way to and returning from escort and strafing sorties. He spent some time in the fighter pilots “ready” hut, chatting with the men who were about to take off. His Excellency learned with pleasure ol the high standard of work done by ground crews of the New Zealand squadrons, which have kept almost 100 per cent, of aircraft available for operations every day. The New Zealand fighter wing’s tally of enemy aircraft at the time of Sir Cyril Newall’s visit was 57. At an advanced Royal New Zealand naval base, His Excellency inspected ships of the flotilla, which has operated in Pacific waters for many months. He was accompanied by Commander A. D. Holder, and during his visit presented long service medals to three of the flotilla’s personnel.