NO RESPITE GIVEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21603, 4 January 1945, Page 5

NO RESPITE GIVEN

GERMANS IN ITALY N.Z. DIVISION’S SHARE FAST PUSHES* IMPOSSIBLE (10 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3 Although the importance of the Italian campaign may possibly be overshadowed by events in the western theatre, the relentless and continuous pressure by the Allied armies in northern Italy is vital .or our high strategy. They make it impossible for the Germans to release one man from that front for operations elsewhere; in fact, in order to maintain their positions, the Germans probably have had to send reinforcements —men they can ill spare. This comment was made by Briga-dier-R. S. Park, C.8.E., commanding officer of New Zealand military headquarters, London, who recently returned from Italy where he attendee n conference over which LieutenantGeneral Sir Bernard Freyberg presided.

“The weather and the terrain in Italy was all against fast-moving operations, said Brigadier Park. “The whole of the Po Valley is intersected with watercourses which, at this time of the year, are liable to overflow and. in any case, are tank obstacles. The country north _of Faenza is riddled with irrigation canals, as a result of which crosscountry work for other than track collides is well-nigh impossible.” Replacement of the Veterans

Brigadier Park, who watched the division attack Faenza, said the New Zealanders had now become thoroughly acclimatised to Italy, but one oig change he noticed since he saw the division in 1941 was the numbei ol new and younger faces owing tc the fact that the personnel of the division had changed considerably. He was impressed by the way in which they had made themselves _a: comfortable as possible under trying .onditions and the liquid mud of thi Po Valley, mentioning particularly the wav they could “brew up” tea on their Benghazi burners within a matter of two or three minutes.. II is very different from the old days when kindling had to be carefully hoarded in order to start a lire. Brigadier Parle flew., to Naples from England in a York aircraft in six hours. It was an ordinary transport aircraft aaid he was given a “blanket and two or three biscuits" for the trip and invited to make himself comfortable. From Naples, he went to Rome, and then Ancona to join tlie division. Later, he flew to Cairo, via Piraeus.

Brigadier Park was greatly impressed by the New Zealand clubs in Florence, Rome, Naples, Bari and Cairo.

“I am satisfied that we provide a welfare, service in that respect secona to none,’ ’he added. “It reflects great credit on the people of New Zealand, and our servicemen owe a debt of gratitude to them for making such things possible. In Rome and Florence big hotels have been taken over completely. In each there is an orchestra which plays during mealtimes and also in the evenings. It is no uncommon sight to see the lounges absolutely full of men listening to the music.”

Major-General 11. E. Barraclough and Lieutenant-Colonel P. Bennett, both of whom attended the conference, are also now in London.