DESERT CONVOY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24491, 27 December 1940, Page 4

DESERT CONVOY

NEW ZEALAND DRIVERS TRANSPORT FOR ITALIAN PRISONERS LONG AND ARDUOUS TASKS (From the Official War Correspondent attached to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East.) WESTERN DESERT, Dec. 25. By the clear light of a full moon this message is being written as the last of over 200 New Zealand trucks are discharging a load of war prisoners at a nearby concentration point, and 500 drivers and relief drivers are bedding down for their third consecutive night in the bleak open desert. A huge convoy of vehicles drawn from the first line of the transport resources of the New Zealand contingent serving.in the desert has just returned from a mopping-up expedition in the wake of the westward push by the British troops. It carried war material to a forward point and brought back nearly 3000 prisoners from remote temporary depots. This was the first and so far. the only opportunity afforded New Zealand fighting units to take part in the advance, and for the drivers selected it was some compensation for the disappointment shared with all the other troops who had been left out of the picture at the start of the offensive. Enthusiasm for Tasks When they sped westward to begin the expedition the drivers passed the checking point with thumbs up and a broad grin of anticipation on every face. Slogans like "Skypu go-getters —bring 'em back alive!" chalked on the trucks reflected their high spirits. That was nearly three days ago, and to-night after long hours at the wheel over the trackless desert and through choking dust, nights of biting cold and scratch meals at odd hours, they seem to have lost none of their enthusiasm. The convoy was a self-contained unit complete with workshops, doctor, and navigators. I journeyed at the head of the convoy with Major J. T. Burrows (Canterbury Battalion) and Captain H. Parata (Infantry Brigade transport officer) who guided the column as if it were a convoy of ships at sea. Once the few well-defined tracks were left behind they spread maps and compasses across their knees and turned almost imperceptible mounds and depressions into sign posts that led unerringly to the point where we were to dump the big load of vital war supplies. Passing through the area, which until lately the enemy had charitably been allowed to believe he dominated, we answered a greeting wave from New Zealand signallers attached to the advancing British forces, and later chatted with New Zealand A.S.C. drivers who are veterans in the supply work in which we were being initiated. They have driven 2000 miles in the past few days. Italians and Libyan Natives At dawn next day the convoy loaded its first prisoners, a small party of Italians held by a platoon of a famous English regiment. The prisoners included a sailor who was violently landsick after a few bumpy miles. We collected from two depots nearly 3000 more, of whom half were Italians of a good type and the remainder a motley crowd of Libyan natives in shabby multi-coloured clothinj. They scrambled aboard the trucks almost eagerly and at dusk were filing into this concentration 'area."'■•'■■-'"■ ; '-."

.The scene here is one which New Zealanders are never likely to forget. Dust from a thousand shuffling feet hangs like a cloud over the camp. Half the scene is bluish grey with the uniforms of the true Italians and half has the annearance of a gaudy Datchwork quilt of Libyan colours. Strange tongues mingle in a weird chatter rising through the still night air.