NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 23, 26 December 1942, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

EARLY DECEMBER ADVANCE. (Official War Correspondent,)

N.Z.E.P. Headquarters, Dec. 12. After a period spent near Bardia, during winch a certain amount of training and work on the overhaul of vehicles and weapons, combined with relaxation, was done, the New Zealand troops have movecl through Libya across Cyrenaica to positions where they will again have an important task in bringing about the destruction of the enemy forces. Tlieir long journpy was made by way of the desert at first through country familiar to many who fought there about the same time a year ago. Our columns passed within sight of the Sidi Rezegh blockhouse, that Well remembered landmark about which the New Zealanders engaged in desperate fighting. Knightsbridge and Bir Hakeim areas wero a litter, with grim evidence of the more recent battles. A few of the more fortunato travelled along the coast route through cultivated land, in parts as green with grass and crops as farmlands in New Zealand. The Italian colonists had been evacuated, but optimistically many had painted on tho farmhouse walls such expressions as “Ritorneremo” —“We will bo back,” and “Duce Vjjiccmo”—“The Duce we will win.” 'Much of the country reminded the New Zealanders of Greece. There wero the same rocky hills with s£;unted trees. Ahead our forces now Jie long stretches of desert of the most arid nature. The weather lias become unpleasantly bleak and rain has fallen almost continuously in the past 24 hours. Battledress has been worn for several weeks.

During leisure hours near Bardia the troops devoted much of their timo to sport. Football grounds were quickly made with the aid of bulldozers and inter-unit matches were started. The move came before the final was reached, but there arc strong hopes of that soon being played in Tripoli. Basketball and deck tennis over camouflage nets were among other games played.