NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 22, 24 December 1942, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

PREMIER'S MESSAGE.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 24. The Prime Minister (Mr Eraser) has sent the following message to the New Zealand troops in the Middle East: "On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand I extend to all New Zealanders serving in the Middle East a sincere and heartfelt message of Christmas greetings. For many of you this is the third Christmas spent away from your homes and families. During three momentous years the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force has fought with matchless gallantry and vigour. Though it has known reverses, it has also tasted the triumphs of victory, and in all circumstances the division his maintained the indomitable spirit which has aroused the respect and admiration of the whole world. To your folks at home and all the people in New Zealand your epic achievements arc a source of inspiration and ■ pride, and on this Christmas Day in the midst of your glorious victories in Egypt and Libya, I can assure you all of us are thinking of you and longing with especial fervour for the restoration of that peace on Earth, goodwill towards men which will bring you home and restore to you and us the right to live our own lives unmolested here in our own land._T wish you all good fortune in the coming year." NEWS FROM HOME. The Postmaster-General (Mr Webb) in a statement to-day referred to the arrangements ensuring that members of the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East received news from home, even though they were actually engaged in operations, He said that just prior to the clash at El Alamcin the New Zca'and Forces were withdrawn for a short rest and the opportunity was taken to completely dispose of the fairly large accumulation of letters and parcels. .With the commencement of the actual fighting, difficulties in delivery naturally arose, but advices indicated that it, was possible, at least up to the end of (he first week in November, to arrange for the delivery of letters to the majority of the units within 24 hours after their dispatch from the base Post Office in Cairo. Parcels, however, presented greater difficulties. All the Christmas mails for the Middle East had reached Egypt safely some lime ago, and he expressed the hope that the mails would reach the boys by Christmas, no matter how far advanced they were. Certainly there would be no effort lacking to achieve this result. The Minister paid a tribute to the efficiency of the Now Zealand postal unit in the Middle East.