FREED PRISONERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25181, 19 April 1945, Page 6

FREED PRISONERS

WELFARE IN BRITAIN GARE OF NEW ZEALANDERS (Special Correspondent) fßecd. 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, April 17 New Zealand liberated prisoners of war are now reaching England on an average of 50 to 60 a day. Nearly 300 are now at repatriation centres in Kent. Nearly 25 per cent of all returning men have been admitted to hospital suffering from effects of malnutrition. Some 60 beds are already in use, and more will be required. "We are having to deal with far more men than we expected, but, generally speaking, the rate of improvement is rapid," said Major A. Loveil, medical officer in command. "It is amazing and most gratifying. "In most cases it is purely a question of the effects of malnutrition, and several men cannot see why they should be sent to hospital. "But the medical examination is very thorough—more thorough than the one they had. # on entering the Army in tact—for we' are taking no chances." The general condition of the men's, teeth is said to be indifferent and there is much denture and filling work to be done. Major-General Kippenberger has visited and talked with every returned mail. "I am very pleased with their spirit," he said. "They are all in good heart and their gratification at what is being done for them is almost touching. "I am also very pleased to see they still regard themselves as soldiers. Their morale is good and they take a pride in' themselves as being soldiers. The morale of our prisoners is always reported to bo high, in spite of hardships, and it is very gratifying to see this confirmed." Padre H. Taylor said: "Although the physical condition of some of the men may be low their spirits are right up. They all like it here in Kent and seem to be very pleased and satisfied." ACTS OF BRAVERY EXAMPLES FROM ITALY NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) IN THE FIELD, April 10 Under very heavv Spandau and mortar fire on the nignt of April 10, Sergeant Eric Francis Michie ? of Balclutha, walked through a thickly-sown minefield, reconnoitred the Santerno River and returned with information which enabled the 23rd Battalion next night to win one of its most smashing successes in this battle. Sergeant Michie was sent forward with a patrol to locate the enemy and find crossing places. Leaving the patrol on the near stopbank he went through the last minefield alone, reconnoitered the river and the far stopbank. Next night the battalion used his information so well that the enem., was completely surprised, and after suffering heavy casualties many Germans surrendered. From this sudden assault the enemy reeled back to a high railway embankment blocking the way to Sanagata. The battalion s first assault on the embankment was thrown back. A second attack was made in daylight on the morning of April 12, and it succeeded largely because of the great bravery of Lance-Sergeant Oswald Lionel Howat, of Hokitika, leader of the most forward section.

| The enemy directed intense Spandau j fire from the embankment, but SerJ geant Howat stood in the open calling : orders to fire and advance. He car- | ried on until the position was taken ! and his company moved on. The 23rd Battalion crashed through Sanagata | and then ran into more heavy fighting i on the way to Massa Lombarda. j _ Others who distinguished themselves | in the preliminary fighting included Prijvate Ivan Tolich, of Te Awamutu, also : Private Allan Stephens, of Waiuku, I who has since been promoted corporal, ; following fine work in the preliminary fighting, and Private Montague Brown, of Kakahi, near Taumarunui, a stretcher-bearer, who repeatedly went I out under fire with complete disregard for danger, and tended the wounded. After a tough fight to establish a starting line, the 21st ran into plenty of trouble, and Spandau fire on an enemy stopbank held one company pinned until Second-Lieutenant Derek Boys, of Kirikopunui, stoop up on our stopbank_ and silenced it with a Piat. The Senio was crossed, and Sergeant Patrick Leach, of Waikiki, was slightly wounded. On the opposite stopbank a German bobbed up. Sergeant Leach's tommy-gun jammed, and he grabbed a shovel and threw it at the German, who promptly surrendered. Sergeant Leach continued on, and was responsible for clearing a number of houses of Germans. _ It is impossible to record all the individual acts of gallantry, but these care-fully-verified examples are typical of the work which has enabled the division to advance with speed. CRUISE FROM SUVA SCHOONER CIMBA EXPECTED The well-known 35ft schooner Cimba is expected at Auckland from Suva at the end of this month. The five-ton schooner, until recently owned by the former Governor of Fiji", Sir Philip Mitchell, is being brought to Auckland by the present owner, Mr G. F. Russell", who will have with him Mr J. Molloy, of Suva, and Mr F. Beddoes, of Lautoka. The trip, which is expected to take a fortnight, is a combined business and pleasure cruise, and the Cimba, a former noted Nova Scotian fishing vessel, will be in Auckland for about three weeks. CLOTHING STOLEN (0.C.) NG-ARUAWAHIA, Wednesday Clothing and papers valued at £25 were removed from the car of a commercial traveller, Mr A. Snowball, at Waingaro last night. Mr Snowball was staying at Waingaro overnight and his car was parked behind a store.