GERMAN TACTICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23542, 30 December 1939, Page 8

GERMAN TACTICS

COMING OFFENSIVE FORECAST IMPOSSIBLE GENERAL FREYBERG'S VIEWS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday In the difficult times ahead it was gratifying to know he had the. support of all tho people of New Zealand, said the general officer commanding the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.. Major-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., at a reception accorded liini this afternoon by the Wellington Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association. Major-General Freyberg repeated tho statement he made at tho civic reception in "Wellington that so far as tho Allies wcro concerned the war had not yet started. A dictator country, like Germany, ho said, must take some action as soon as offensive operations were possible. In his opinion, after having looked on the defences of 0110 side, tho Maginot Line, it would be an act of folly or desperation for Germany to attack oiv this front. Germany was faced with either trying to seek a conclusion by attacking 011 the Western Front against tho Maginot Line, or in Southeastern Europe. "There is nothing to show which way it will go," said Major-General Freyberg. "The future is pure conjecture. When it comes it will he according to Germany's well-known crash tactics, intensive bombing and machinegun lire from low-flying aeroplanes and from heavily-armoured vehicles." Major-General Freyberg, who was accompanied by the Chief ol the General Staff in New Zealand, Major-General J. E. Duigan, mot with an enthusiastic burst of hand-clapping and cheering when he arrived at the club, and was received by the president of the United Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association of New Zealand, Mr. Hustler Smith. The value of his conversations with Major-General Duigan had surpassed anything lie could say, Major-General Freyberg said. "I am certain the youth of this country and the youth of Great Britain will manfully uphold tho traditions of those who fought in the last war," he added. "I will say this very sincerely, Major-General Freyberg is tho right man in the right place," said MajorGeneral Duigan. "I have met 110 other officer in all my career who would lead the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Forco as he will.", MajorGeneral Duigan said Major-General Freyberg could rely 011 him to do all he possibly could in New Zealand. It was not possible with tho equipment available in the Dominion to give the men the thorough training necessary, but Major-General Freyberg would later give them higher training overseas and would weld them into a firstclass lighting force. CAMPAIGN TOR RECRUITS NEXT WEDNESDAY'S PLANS As part of tho drive to secure 5000 medically fit volunteers for tho Special Force in tho near future, two mobile recruiting bases will be in use at the Auckland Domain during the ceremonial parade next Wednesday. Tho parade, and the subsequent march through the city, are expected to give some stimulus to recruiting, and after the parade the bases will bo removed to Queen Street, where they will remain for the day. Most of the men of the Special Force who have been 011 Christmas leave have now returned to camps in various parts of Now Zealand. The final party from tho Papakura camp is due to return to-morrow. IMPROVED RESPONSE NORTH AUCKLAND QUOTA [from our own correspondent] WHANG AREI, Friday This week has shown tho largest return for recruits from North Auckland for the Special Military Force than any previous week except at the commencement of tho war. Thirty-fivo men enlisted during .the period, as compared with an average of 12 during previous weeks. Tho best day was Thursday, when 15 men enlisted. Thoro has been little increase in Maori registrations, six having been received during the week. • Tho number of fit men availablo for tho second echelon has been increased during tho week by the transfer of men from temporarily unfit classification and there aro now 83 available to fill the quota of 339. There arc at present 80 recruits in North Auckland awaiting medical examination, while a further 70 men have enlisted, but aro employed in reserved occupations. A number of these will probably bo released for service.