One Topic Only For Division In Italy

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1945, Page 6

One Topic Only For Division In Italy

(Official N.Z.E.F. War Correspondent) LAKE TRASIMENO, August 23.

There is only one topic of conversation in the Division today: "When are we going home?” And while discussions wax merrily, rumours fiy wildly.

The men await definite news with a patience which will be wearing thin if they are kept in the dark much longer. Till the Japanese war stopped, a certain amount of training was done in preparation for the East. Now. that is unnecessary, but unit officers are working hard to keep the men interested and are doing an excellent job under some difficulties. The Division is camped in a very large area completely surrounding the lake in tented camps. Approximately one-third of the Division is absent each week at a rest camp on the Adriatic coast, near Senigallia. and all units have leave parties to Venice, Florence and Rome, and ai a mountain leave centre for those in camps. The general pattern of the day is a unit parade and a route march in the morning, sports in the afternoon, and the evenings filled in with reading, letter v/riting, and movies about twice weekly, and in some units lectures and debates. The Division is awaiting expectantly the return from England at the end of the month of General Freyberg. who is expected to bring back definite news. Health generally is excellent, and clippings from. Trieste newspapers which have reached the Division express the deepest regret at the Division’s departure from that city.